Toronto Maple Leafs: Worth Exploring Another Coyotes Trade

The Toronto Maple Leafs would be wise to revisit their recent trades with the Arizona Coyotes, as there is yet another useful player out in the desert.

Perhaps one of the missing components on the Toronto Maple Leafs roster is a power forward. Zach Hyman played a style somewhat akin to one previously, but really it’s a hole that needs filling.

After all, the Toronto Maple Leafs are built around skill players and adding an element of power, outside of the five-minute guys on the fourth line, would be wise.

Given the recent trade history between the two teams and given one particular player ticks those boxes; Kyle Dubas should get on the phone to the Arizona Coyotes as soon as possible.

Lawson Crouse Would Look Good On Toronto Maple Leafs Roster

The player worth targeting is Lawson Crouse, who probably would be a more known name in any market outside of Arizona.  Last season, he tallied 20 goals and 14 assists through 65 games which certainly shows he has can compete at the NHL level.

Playing a game built around physicality and toughness, he would add an element of grit to the Toronto Maple Leafs line-up that was just as needed now as it was at the deadline.

Of course to fit Crouse onto the roster, the Leafs would need to see Alex Kerfoot depart. Crouse is due a new contract this summer and if his asking price isn’t too high, he would be an ideal acquisition.

Whether Crouse is enough of an improvement to the Toronto Maple Leafs top-six though is a whole other question, especially with the view of Michael Bunting needing a raise within the year.

The pay raise that the former Coyote will require certainly means other decisions around cap hits in the top-six must be very carefully balanced. Such is the top-heavy makeup of the team. Noting that Kerfoot would have to move out to get such a deal done presents challenges in itself with the former Harvard student being able to deny trades to a 10-team list.

There’s every chance he’d be smart enough to not want to play in the 5,000 seat college arena that the Coyotes will soon be calling home for the time being.

It’s a tough spot because Crouse would certainly change the dynamic and could be a fantastic fit with John Tavares, who has often thrived with a slightly grittier player on his wing.

To partner Tavares, Crouse and Nylander behind Marner, Matthews and Bunting would be a very competitive top-six group, and surprisingly one that is made up of one-third ex-Coyotes.

It feels like it might be a stretch too far to see Lawson Crouse playing in Toronto Maple Leafs colours, but we can certainly consider the idea as a possible one that would offer the team a benefit.