What Can the Toronto Maple Leafs Pick From the Canucks’ Carcass?
By Luke Ryan
Likely Toronto Maple Leafs Trade: Luke Schenn
Perhaps the most likely deal to be done, just for the sheer fact Schenn is a right-sided defenseman that plays physical hockey. That in itself has always made him an intriguing option for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Of course, Schenn originally being the Toronto Maple Leafs first-round pick (5th overall) in the 2008 Draft would mean any trade here would be viewed as somewhat of a homecoming.
Financially this makes the most sense in terms of those players on expiring deals also. At a cap hit of just $850,000 he would be a cheap addition, as a seventh defenseman.
The fact that he’s 33 and not that good to start with shouldn’t be that much of a deterrent. He wouldn’t be a regular, but he would likely provide more reliability than Benn or Mette.
Luke Schenn was the number two defenseman across the NHL last season in terms of hits, but that just mean he plays too much without the puck.
On balance it’d be a very sensible move to pursue Luke Schenn and certainly one that won’t incur a significant asset cost on the Leafs part.
They certainly could do far worse than pursue a rental deal for Luke Schenn; one this early in the season would be valuable too in terms of allowing him to adapt to new systems and teammates too.