3 Big-Name Players Toronto Maple Leafs Shouldn’t Trade For
Everybody wants the Toronto Maple Leafs to trade for a big-fish, but there are a few names they should avoid.
Over the years, the Toronto Maple Leafs have always been rumored to be interested in a big-name. Typically it’s in free agency, with Brad Richards, Steven Stamkos or John Tavares, but for whatever reason the Leafs are always tied to the best names in hockey.
Toronto’s roster is a Stanley Cup favorite right now. Even if they don’t make a trade, it wouldn’t be shocking to see them advance far.
Wait a minute. Yes, it would be incredibly shocking to see them go anywhere in the playoffs because they haven’t won a round since 2004.
Anyway, if the Leafs went after one of these big-name players available, it could really help their chances at advancing and potentially winning a Stanley Cup.
Anytime you can add another great player is a good idea, right? Well, not every time because there’s unfortunately a salary cap and many other factors that go into acquiring some of these great names available.
As such, here are three big-names the Toronto Maple Leafs should avoid trading for at the NHL Trade Deadline.
No. 1: Ben Chiarot
Why wouldn’t the Leafs want to trade for a 6-foot-3, 235 pound defenseman who played significant minutes for the Montreal Canadiens, who went to the Stanley Cup Finals last year?
Well, he’s not that good.
Not only has Chiarot been one of the worst players in the NHL this year, but the Leafs absolutely feasted on him last year in the playoffs, outshooting Montreal by more than 40 shots with him on the ice.
At $3.5M, you can find someone way better than him. When he’s on the ice, he’s typically chasing the puck and was bailed out by one of the best goaltenders in the world last year.
You can argue that any of the Canadiens’ defenseman, beside Shea Weber, weren’t that valuable to the team and that it had all to do with Carey Price. By taking Weber and Price out of the line-up, the team went from being in the Stanley Cup Finals to being the worst team in the league.
Chariot is over-valued because of his size and doesn’t provide any offensive upside. You’d essentially be trading a first-round pick for a left-handed shooting Justin Holl, and that’s not going to solve any of Toronto’s issue.
No. 2: Mark Giordano
Trading for a former Norris Trophy winner, who was born in Toronto seems like a no-brainer. However, at his age and price-tag, the Leafs don’t make a lot of sense.
If the NHL had a luxury-tax salary-cap system (it drives me nuts that they don’t), adding Giordano and going over the tax would be a fine decision. However, you can’t justify trading for a 38-year-old defenseman who makes $6.75M.
“Gio” would bolster the blue-line and be an unbelievable third-paring defenseman for this team, but the money doesn’t work. He’d bring a veteran presence but would also be important on the second-unit power-play.
As I mentioned, in a perfect world, Giordano would be loved in Toronto, but his price is way too much money to give up any assets for him.
No. 3: Claude Giroux
I want this trade to work so much but at $8.275M, I don’t know how it does.
Even if Philadelphia retains 50% of his contract, the assets you’d have to give up in order to acquire Giroux would be too much. For a player of his caliber, you’d have to assume the Flyers would be asking for a minimum of two draft picks (two first-rounders, or first and second), a high-end prospect (or two) and a roster player that can be impactful.
Essentially, the Leafs would have to give up something like: Alex Kerfoot, Ilya Mikheyev, two first-round draft picks and Nick Robertson to make this work.
Also, I don’t even know if that would be the best trade package that the Flyers would receive, as you’d have to imagine every contender would be calling the Flyers to make an offer.
It’s not everyday that you can try and trade for a former 100-point player, but it just doesn’t work with the Toronto Maple Leafs needs. He makes way too much money, the team won’t be able to afford him after this year and they already have high-end skill in their top-six.
Next. Maybe Toronto Isn't Trading Marner?. dark
They should stick to cheaper players with high upside and depth defenseman who can add reinsurance on the blue-line. As much as we’d all love to see Giroux in Toronto, it’s not going to happen.