3 Big-Name Players Toronto Maple Leafs Shouldn’t Trade For

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 10: Claude Giroux #28 of the Philadelphia Flyers speaks to linesman Andrew Smith #51 during the first period between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Toronto Maple Leafs at Wells Fargo Center on November 10, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 10: Claude Giroux #28 of the Philadelphia Flyers speaks to linesman Andrew Smith #51 during the first period between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Toronto Maple Leafs at Wells Fargo Center on November 10, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
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Toronto Maple Leafs
PHILADELPHIA, PA – DECEMBER 03: Claude Giroux #28 of the Philadelphia Flyers . (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

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.

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.