Toronto Maple Leafs Are Not Trading for Matt Tkachuk

The Toronto Maple Leafs would love to add a power-forward like Matt Tkachuk to their lineup.

Unfortunately, that is not a realistic option for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Leafs have four forwards who combine to make roughly $40 million dollars and about half of their salary cap.

While this has proven to be a smart strategy (they are the NHL’s 6th best team since Sheldon Keefe took over, which is a 208 game sample, and they can find cheap, quality players for free, seemingly at will) they aren’t likely to add a fifth superstar forward anytime soon.

Toronto Maple Leafs and Matt Tkachuk

The first thing people talk about when they talk about the Leafs potentially trading for Tkachuk is William Nylander, but that’s pretty dumb.   Nylander has two years left on what is likely the NHL’s most valuable contract.   You aren’t trading that for a player with no contract who would need a minimum of a four million dollar raise on top of what you were paying Nylander.

Tkachuk isn’t four million dollars better than Nylander. In fact, adjusted for ice time, Nylander is likely the better player.

Keep in mind that the only real value Tkachuk brings is offensive, and the Leafs are already the best (or close enough) offensive team in the league.

Tkachuk won’t make their defense tougher to play against, and he won’t make their goalies any better either.

A smash-and-grab player like Tkachuk is always welcomed on any team and certainly he would make the Leafs into a more dynamic team with a different set of weapons, but ultimately, it doesn’t matter how you score, as long as you do.

The Leafs don’t need scoring, so if they were going to use the assets it would take to acquire Tkachuk in a trade, there is probably a top-pairing defenseman out there you could get instead.

The Leafs have added a lot of depth this summer, but I wouldn’t expect them to upgrade any more at forward.  They likely move Kerfoot out to make room for Sandin, and that will allow them to award the 2nd left-wing spot to someone who earns it.

Nick Robertson, Denis Malgin, Alex Steeves, eventually Matthew Knies…..it remains to be seen who will grab the reins, but the fact is, the Leafs have to develop a couple stars from within if they want to maintain their competitive window.  It is essential that they leave spots on their roster open for young players to win.

The Leafs are counting on it to get better.  They know that with their core they are automatically one of the league’s best teams.  If Sandin, Liljegren, Robertson, et. al. develop as they look like they will, that is when this team takes the next step.

As for Tkachuk, he’s just not needed. It would be exciting if they got him, but the play here is to move Kerfoot, sign Sandin, then wait and see who establishes themselves this season.  At the trade deadline is when they can add their fifth star forward, if they still need one then.