What Should the Toronto Maple Leafs Do at the Trade Deadline?

Gordon Munroe

Over the past few playoff appearances, the biggest weakness has been the Toronto Maple Leafs inability to break through a hot goaltender/hard defensive structure.

Time and time again their highly talented and costly forwards have come up snake bitten.

So, this signals that the greatest area of need would be another skilled forward. Luckily, there are a few options that shouldn’t come at a great cost but should be able to supplement their talented core.

These players are: Max Domi, Rickard Rakell, and Brock Boeser.

Domi brings a versatile skill with the possibility of providing a bit of bite to their top-six.

Rakell brings extra skill and play driving to the Leafs top-six allowing them more versatility in their combinations up front.

Boeser would bring a much welcomed additional scoring option, the young sniper would also be an RFA when his contract is up making him much more valuable (and likely costlier) of an acquisition.

The Toronto Maple Leafs should also look to add to the back-end. With Muzzin’s future up in the air, it’d be smart to add another defender that can play top-four minutes on the left side, allowing Brodie to move back to his more natural right side and hopefully attempt to fill the hole left by Jake Muzzin’s absence.

Some options here are: Mark Giordano, Jacob Middleton, and Jakob Chychrun. Giordano would provide leadership and a veteran presence that Muzzin brought to the Leafs blueline.

Although he’s not the Norris trophy caliber defenceman he was a few years ago, he also gives them the added ability of rekindling his chemistry with former teammate TJ Brodie who can slot in alongside him if they choose.

Jacob Middleton, although not the sexiest name was linked to the Leafs recently and would provide some extra size and defensive ability to the Leafs blue line.

Lastly, Jakob Chychrun much like Boeser would be the much costlier acquisition and although he would be exciting, he’d probably be better off as a summer acquisition given all the moving parts that would be required.