Toronto Maple Leafs Might Go Bargain Shopping At Trade Deadline

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With limited salary cap space and only three draft picks in the 2022 NHL draft, the Toronto Maple Leafs might stick with bargain shopping at the trade deadline.

When you are the general manager of a team with a record of 30-10-3, there is not much need for adding. Kyle Dubas will probably make a trade or two if he thinks the players he is adding will help the Toronto Maple Leafs in the playoffs.

Just don’t expect those players to be big-name players. The likely course of action for Dubas at this season’s trade deadline will be to add depth. Adding depth to Toronto’s blue line will be priority number one leading up to the March 21st deadline.

Dubas and his staff will be looking for players who will help the Maple Leafs be a better defensive team. They will also be looking for players who meet that category but don’t cost much. With only three draft picks in the 2022 NHL draft and limited salary cap space, Dubas will need to get creative.

There are some decent-depth defensemen the Toronto Maple Leafs could target at the deadline. Some are rentals, while others have term left on their contracts. Dubas has stated that he would like to see this team perform with a fully healthy lineup before he makes any moves. If he is going to add the right piece to this group, he might need to do so sooner rather than later.

Toronto Maple Leafs Rental Options

Kyle Dubas has stated that he would prefer acquiring players with term over rentals, but he is not opposed to the idea. If the right player is available and Dubas thinks that player can help this team win, it won’t matter if they’re a rental or not. Here is a look at some of the rental options that Dubas might look at acquiring.

Keith Yandle

Keith Yandle of the Philadelphia Flyers is the NHL’s newest Ironman after playing more than 965 consecutive games. An incredible streak that he started back in 2009. Yandle has a salary cap hit of $900,000 that expires after this season.
(Salary Cap info from Capfriendly.com)

He is a left-shooting defenseman that the Leafs could primarily play on the bottom pair. When needed, Yandle can play more minutes in the top four. It is a smart depth addition if Jake Muzzin gets hurt again. Yandle does have a no-trade clause, so he would have to waive that for any deal to happen.

Zdeno Chara

After many seasons of battling against the NHL’s Beast in the East, the Toronto Maple Leafs would gladly have Zdeno Chara on their side. The 6’9″ Chara might be 44 years old, but he can still average 18 minutes of ice time per game.

After seeing the New York Islanders do well in last season’s playoffs, Chara returning to them after 19 seasons seemed like a good fit. However, the Islanders are not a playoff team this season, and Chara might be looking for one last run at winning another Stanley Cup.

Chara has a salary cap hit of $750,000 that expires after this season. This is a contract that Dubas could easily add without subtracting much from his current roster.

If Dubas sticks to his plan of acquiring players with term, these could be some of his best bargain options.

Luke Schenn

Trading with the Vancouver Canucks could return Luke Schenn to where his NHL career first started. Schenn would be a good depth option for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He brings plenty of playoff experience after helping the Tampa Bay Lightning win back-to-back Stanley Cups. Schenn also brings a ton of physicality, as evidenced by his 124 hits in 30 games this season. His salary-cap hit is just $850,000 this season and next season.

Toronto might decide to trade Justin Holl at the deadline or in the off-season. If they do, Schenn gives Toronto depth on the right side. He would be behind T.J. Brodie and Timothy Liljegren.

Scott Mayfield

With Scott Mayfield, the Maple Leafs would get a defenseman that can play around 20 minutes a night. He can also be physical and has plenty of playoff experience. His $1.45 million salary cap hit this season and next season is a bargain for what he brings to the team.

Mayfield has recorded 120 blocked shots and 118 hits in 51 playoff games. Adding a defenseman that gives you stats like that while also playing close to 20 minutes a game is a must-have for the playoffs.

dark. Next. Leafs Deserve More Credit for Great Run

I believe Kyle Dubas needs to add defensive depth to have a good run in the playoffs. The team should have at least eight defensemen with NHL experience. If he can add two of the defensemen I mentioned and have Liljegren be the ninth defenseman on the depth chart, that is great depth.

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