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Toronto Maple Leafs Need to Trade For Jonathan Toews or Patrick Kane

By Stephen Nixon

CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 15: Jonathan Toews #19 and Patrick Kane #88 of the Chicago Blackhawks celebrate by hoisting the Stanley Cup after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning by a score of 2-0 in Game Six to win the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Final at the United Center on June 15, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 15: Jonathan Toews #19 and Patrick Kane #88 of the Chicago Blackhawks celebrate by hoisting the Stanley Cup after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning by a score of 2-0 in Game Six to win the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Final at the United Center on June 15, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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The Chicago Blackhawks are in full rebuild mode, which means the Toronto Maple Leafs should take advantage of it.

The Toronto Maple Leafs already fleeced the Chicago Blackhawks with the Petr Mrazek trade, so they may as well try again by acquiring Jonathan Toews or Patrick Kane.

Everyone thought that Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews were the next Kane and Toews, with expectations of greatness for the Leafs dynamic duo. They’ve still been one of the best duo’s in the league, but they haven’t had the team success that Chicago did.

Both players were unbelievable during their playoff run’s that led to three Stanley Cup’s. Kane was the point producer, while Toews was a leader, doing whatever it took to win.

Toronto Maple Leafs Should Trade For Kane or Toews

When you’re in a win-now mode and only have Matthews under contract for a guaranteed two years, you need to do whatever it takes to win.

Toronto only has $6M in cap-space right now, but that could change any minute, as they can easily shed $11M without sacrificing any of their core. Jake Muzzin, Alex Kerfoot and Justin Holl are all legit NHL players that teams will be lining up for, especially after they miss out in free agency.

Kane and Toews both make $10.5M each, but the Blackhawks have so much cap-space that they could easily retain 50 percent of that deal.

As such, with Chicago in a full fledge rebuild and the Leafs and Blackhawks already doing business together, there may be an opportunity to get Toews or Kane to come north.

Both players have a no-move-clause, but you’d have to think they’d waive it to play for a contender. Toews is a Canadian kid who would probably love to finally play in Canadian city, while Kane is the second-best American player beside Matthews, so the two may want to team up and try to win together.

Getting Toews would be great because of his leadership and previous winning pedigree, but Kane is a difference-maker. Kane could take the Leafs from being a contender to a favorite to win a Stanley Cup next year.

Here’s the trade for Kane:

  • Toronto Maple Leafs acquire: Patrick Kane (50% salary retained)
  • Chicago Blackhawks acquire: 2023 1st Round Pick, 2024 1st Round Pick, Nick Robertson and Alex Kerfoot

This may sound like a lot, but Kane is a superstar. He’s won a Hart, Art Ross and Conn Smythe Trophy and has 132 points in 136 career playoff games. Since winning his last Stanley Cup in 2015, Kane has only played in 20 playoff games, so you know he’s dying to get back to a team that has a legit chance at winning.

Not only that, but Kane is originally from Buffalo, NY, so he’d be playing in the same division he grew up in and is now only a 1.5 hour drive from his hometown, compared to an 8.5 hour drive from Chicago.

Next. Expect Toronto to Clear More Cap Space. dark

If you’re going to embrace speed and skill, Toronto needs to give a kings ransom for Kane.

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