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A Likely Toronto Maple Leafs Trade Partner: New York Islanders

By Stephen Nixon

ELMONT, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 21: Cal Clutterbuck #15 of the New York Islanders checks Morgan Rielly #44 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during the third period at the UBS Arena on November 21, 2021 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
ELMONT, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 21: Cal Clutterbuck #15 of the New York Islanders checks Morgan Rielly #44 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during the third period at the UBS Arena on November 21, 2021 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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ELMONT, NEW YORK – JANUARY 30: Zdeno Chara #33 of the New York Islanders (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
ELMONT, NEW YORK – JANUARY 30: Zdeno Chara #33 of the New York Islanders (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /

No. 2: Zdeno Chara

The 44-year-old giant is exactly what Toronto needs.

For the past decade, if not longer, the Leafs haven’t had a legit number-one defenseman that intimidates the other team. You could argue that Morgan Rielly is a number-one defenseman, but the opposition is never worried about him running you through the boards.

Chara is someone that will always intimidate the opposition. Whether he’s 25-years-old or 55-years-old, when he’s on the ice, the other team notices.

He’s definitely lost a step or two over the past few years, but he was never a fast player to begin with. Also, if he joined Toronto, he wouldn’t be asked to play 25 minutes per night, but instead would be asked to play third-pairing minutes and be a leader on and off the ice.

In a critical Game 7, you feel comfortable putting Chara over the boards, instead of Justin Holl, Timothy Liljegren, Rasmus Sandin or Travis Dermott.

In the biggest moment, Chara can clear the front of the net calmly and that’s worth every penny.

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