4 Big-Name Players Toronto Maple Leafs Could Trade For Now
With Jake Muzzin on long-term injured reserve (LTIR), the Toronto Maple Leafs now have some cap-flexibility to make a big trade at the deadline.
The Toronto Maple Leafs need Jake Muzzin back in the line-up for the playoffs, so let’s hope he can rehab and be fully healthy for that run, but his salary off the books could really benefit this team moving forward.
With Muzzin on LTIR, it frees up $5.625M of cap-space for Toronto to replace him.
As previously mentioned, that cap-space is fantastic, but having Muzzin back in the line-up for the playoffs 100 percent healthy is the most important thing. If Muzzin isn’t back for the playoffs, this team is going to have a hard time to compete because when he’s at his best, he’s a legitimate top-four defenseman and someone who’s very hard to play against.
By having $5.625M of cap-space, the Leafs can do a few things.
They could bolster their defensive-core with two depth players making roughly $2M each, then find a depth winger making $1M, or they could use it all on one player and make a huge trade.
Or, maybe they use that money to acquire a goaltender who’s been to five Stanley Cup’s?…..
Whatever the Toronto Maple Leafs decide to do, the number-one priority is that Muzzin gets back as quick as possible and is healthy for the playoffs. But, in the meantime, the team can use that cap-space to their advantage and boost their roster for the stretch run.
Here are four big-name players they may trade for now that they have cap-space.
No. 1: John Klingberg (And Joe Pavelski?)
It’s no secret that Toronto needs to upgrade their defenseman and in my opinion, the best available player at the deadline is John Klingberg.
Klingberg can play top-four minutes and can help the team on the power-play. He’s a point-producing defenseman, but also has a ton of size, at 6-foot-3. Paired beside Rasmus Sandin, this could be a very productive second-pairing and would really balance out the entire defensive group.
Prior to the Muzzin injury, Klingberg was already somewhat affordable because he only makes $4.250M, but now that the Leafs have more cap-space, they could get creative and go all-in with a Dallas trade.
Joe Pavelski makes $7M and is on the last year of his contract. He has 53 points in 50 games and is having an amazing season. The Leafs already tried out Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton, so why not bring in another former long-term San Jose Shark and acquire Pavelski?
Funny enough, if Dallas were to retain 50% of both of their contracts, it would equal $5.625M exactly, which the amount of cap-space Toronto has.
They need help at left-wing and defense, so this trade could be the perfect solution.
No. 2: Filip Forsberg
Forsberg makes $6M and is on the final year of his contract. Not only that, but there are rumors around the league that he’s being actively shopped right now.
The Predators are on the verge of the playoffs right now. However, if they do make the playoffs, they’re going to have a very hard time advancing anywhere because they may have to play Colorado, Vegas or Calgary in the first round.
The only hope they would have is if goaltender Juuse Saros stands on his head and the team wins low-scoring games every night, but that’s a lot to ask from the 26-year-old.
Since Nashville sees it’s playoff dreams fading, it makes sense to shop their best asset. Forsberg has 26 goals in 38 games this year and has been one of the best goal-scorers in the league. With a career 0.38 goals per game average, Forsberg has been on a 30-goal per season pace his entire career and would be a perfect fit in Toronto’s top-six.
The John Tavares and William Nylander line needs a boost right now and Forsberg could be that player to help. If Toronto could pull of this trade it would easily make their top-six the best in hockey.
No. 3: Marc Andre-Fleury and the Toronto Maple Leafs
Why would Toronto trade for Marc Andre-Fleury when they already have Jack Campbell and Petr Mrazek, you may ask? Well, it’s because neither of those goaltenders can be trusted right now and you need a veteran to steer the ship.
Fleury is coming off a Vezina Trophy during the 2020-21 season and has been to five Stanley Cup’s in his career. Despite playing on one of the worst teams in hockey, on a team that he never even wanted to play for in the first place, his stats have been fine.
The 37-year-old has a .912 SV%, 2.80 GAA this season, which are both slightly above average (stats: hockeydb.com).
If Toronto traded for Fleury, they’d have to trade Mrazek to Chicago in the deal, so you’d have a tandem of Fleury and Campbell heading into the playoffs, which would be great. The competition of Fleury in the room could help spark Campbell and improve his game, while you’d have the safety blanket of Fleury.
Even if the Toronto Maple Leafs traded for Fleury, you wouldn’t necessarily need him to be your starter every night. When the Pittsburgh Penguins won back-to-back Stanley Cup’s, Matt Murray and Fleury split time (even in the playoffs) and it worked. The same thing could happen in Toronto, as that extra reinsurance with Fleury could be the difference in the playoffs.
It’s a crazy idea to use all of that cap-space for a goaltender but Fleury knows what it takes to win and that experience could really help the Toronto Maple Leafs, especially if they find themselves in another Game 7 this spring.
No. 4: J.T. Miller
Toronto is currently shopping for a top-six left-winger and J.T Miller’s name has been rumored.
With one-year left on his contract at $5.25M, Miller is definitely affordable this season with Muzzin on LTIR and could potentially be affordable next year, if Alex Kerfoot is on his way out.
Although, I’m sure Kerfoot would prefer to play in Toronto and compete for a Stanley Cup, he’s actually from Vancouver, so I’m sure he wouldn’t be upset about getting traded back home. As a result, a Miller for Kerfoot and draft picks/prospects could be a good fit for both parties.
Kerfoot is a good player, but he’s not a top-six forward in my opinion. Miller, on the other hand, is a perfect second-line left-winger, which is where he would fit in Toronto. Paired beside John Tavares and William Nylander, Miller can not only bring some more size (6-foot 1, 215 pounds), but can also bring more offense.
During the 2019-20 season, Miller had a breakout year scoring 27 goals and 72 points in 69 games and was a force in the playoffs, with 18 points in 17 games. That play can continued into this year, as Miller is having his best season yet, as he’s on pace for 30 goals and 86 points. (stats: hockeydb.com)
Next. Toronto Maple Leafs Trade Rumors. dark
If Toronto can pull of this trade, Leafs fans should go nuts because Miller is exactly the player they need.