Toronto Maple Leafs Potential Trade Target: Josh Manson
I don’t think there’s any question that Kyle Dubas is on a mission to shore up the Toronto Maple Leafs defense at the trade deadline.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are struggling to outscore their defensive mistakes lately.
The goaltending of this team has been horrendous for nearly three months now, and with a limited time to fix wait ails them, the Leafs are going to have to improve their weakest area, which is team defense. Specifically, clearing the front of the net.
The defense is soft, and the goalies aren’t making enough saves, it’s truly amazing that this team is still winning games because that is, generally speaking, not a recipe for success.
We know what Dubas is looking for, but we don’t know who he’s looking for, and some recent developments have me thinking that player could be Josh Manson of the Anaheim Ducks.
The pending UFA comes with a $4.1 million annual cap hit and the Ducks can easily eat half of that if they choose to do so. This is a very affordable top 4 defenseman, and there will be no shortage of suitors if the Ducks make him available.
There are three reasons that Manson has not been at the top of my list in terms of trade rumors. I will address all of them in this article because recent events have changed the landscape on this player.
Josh Manson and the Toronto Maple Leafs
First, Manson injured his finger during a game against the Ottawa Senators on January 28 and went on IR in early February, where he was classified as out indefinitely. If you don’t know when a guy will be healthy, it makes it very difficult to target that player at the deadline.
Recently, it has come out that the Ducks are expecting Manson back any day now. According to Eric Stephens of The Athletic, Manson has recovered from his finger fracture and is on track to play Thursday night against Nashville.
Second, and to the surprise of many, the Anaheim Ducks have spent most of this season in a playoff position. There is no way the Ducks are subtracting a player like Manson if they have a chance to make the playoffs.
Unfortunately for them, the team is 4-6 in their last ten games, and currently on the outside of the playoff picture at the time of writing this. They are now 4 points out of wild card contention, and two of the teams ahead of them are on fire (the Dallas Stars and Vancouver Canucks). Connor McDavid and the Oilers are also ahead of them, and I don’t think they are interested in missing the playoffs either.
The Ducks will need to make up ground in the next 10 days or so if they want to convince themselves that a playoff run is a reality. It’s possible, but it’s unlikely, and Pat Verbeek has already said publicly that he wants to get assets for his UFA’s if he is in the position to do so. Anybody that is not extended by March 21 is going to be available.
Third, it was made known by Elliot Freedman that Manson had Toronto on his limited no-trade list, citing the Covid restrictions in Ontario as a deterrent to playing there.
In recent developments, the Canadian teams are easing restrictions, and travel across the border is opening back up. If this trend continues, Manson may decide to waive his no-trade to go to a Canadian team that has a chance at a playoff run.
If this truly is the guy Dubas wants, events are now in motion that could change the landscape around a player that was, by all accounts, previously unavailable.
Josh Manson is a veteran right shot defenseman capable of playing hard minutes against the other team’s best players. There is nothing about Manson’s game that is fun to play against. He’s 6’3″ and 220 lbs, physical and mean, blocks shots, kills penalties, sticks up for teammates, and plays a style of hockey that is conducive to playoff success.
You’re not going to get much offense out of Manson but that’s just what he’s asked to do. In terms of statistical value, among all Ducks defensemen, he is second in hits/60, first in 5v5 CF%, first in 5v5 high danger chance differential, and has been on the ice for the fewest 5v5 GA/60 (all stats via hockey-reference.com and naturalstattrick.com).
He’s the kind of defenseman that opposing forwards just don’t like getting close to, and the Leafs could use a guy who has that kind of presence.
Manson’s absence correlates with the Ducks regression and is certainly a factor in them falling out of the playoff race. With Manson in the lineup, the Ducks are 21-15-7 this year. Without Manson, they are 4-7-1.
Simply put, Manson is clearly the Ducks’ defensive anchor, and they have really missed him during his stint on the IR.
What would the acquisition cost be? You would have to think that it starts with a first round pick and a good prospect. If Anaheim retains salary, then the price goes up. The Leafs may also need to have the Ducks take a contract to make the salaries work, such as Holl, Dermott, or even Kerfoot.
Would you be ok with Dubas sending Holl, a first, and a prospect to the Ducks for a playoff run that includes Josh Manson in the top 4? Is that a fair price?
I think the answer to all of the above is yes if the Leafs get past the first round of the playoffs. The answer is no if they don’t. Personally, I’m kind of all-in here, and I’m not sure if the defense is good enough as currently constructed.
It would hurt, but I would do it.
dark. Next. Marc-Andre Fleury Rumours
This is the era of Auston Matthews. You do everything you can to win while he is under contract for your team.