According to multiple sources, the Maple Leafs have been in contact with the Vancouver Canucks. A few names from the Canucks roster have been mentioned as possible trade targets for Toronto.
Toronto Maple Leafs Showing Interest in These Vancouver Players
Conor Garland – RW/LW
Dennis Bernstein from theforthperiod.com has reported that the Toronto Maple Leafs are one of the teams showing interest in Vancouver forward Conor Garland. Toronto GM Kyle Dubas has said that he would prefer to add players with term. Garland has four more years on his contract with a $4.95 million AAV.
Garland is a mid-six type player who can move between the second and third lines. Dubas might see him as a long-term replacement for Ilya Mikheyev. Mikheyev is not expected to re-sign with Toronto this summer. So far this season, Garland has 14 goals and 17 assists for 31 points in 51 games.
J.T. Miller – LW/C
TSN hockey insider Pierre LeBrun mentioned on Insider Trading that Toronto Maple Leafs assistant GM Laurence Gilman has scouted the last two Vancouver Canucks games. LeBrun confirms that Gilman was scouting J.T. Miller among a few other players. He also mentions that there doesn’t appear to be anything too serious at the moment. Teams will need to step up on their offers if they want Miller.
Miller has one more season left on his contract after this season. His salary-cap hit of $5.25 million is slightly higher than Garland’s. Toronto can fit him under their salary cap depending on which player(s) they send to Vancouver in the trade.
So far this season, Miller has 21 goals and 40 assists for 61 points in 54 games. For a high-caliber player like Miller, Dubas will need to pay a hefty price, but this is a player and situation that actually does make sense.