Possible Late Season Rentals for the Toronto Maple Leafs

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The Toronto Maple Leafs get mentioned in rumors about acquiring a defenseman often. With defenseman Jake Muzzin on long-term injured reserve (LTIR), it makes sense to assume they need more help on the back end.

Adding another defenseman is still probable, but the Toronto Maple Leafs need help up front.

Secondary scoring seems to be down for the Maple Leafs this season. Finding a top-six left-winger would be ideal.

The team is currently rotating Alex Kerfoot, Nick Robertson, and Michael Bunting as their top-six left-wingers.

After a 51-point season last year, Kerfoot is off to a slow start with six points in 18 games. In Toronto’s last five games, Kerfoot has registered just one point. Robertson has five points in ten games but can’t seem to stay in the lineup.

The best thing for his development might be to send him down to the AHL so he can play regularly. Bunting is another Toronto player that got off to a slow start. He seems to have gotten his groove back, with four points in his last two games. Those four points bring him up to ten points in 18 games. (Stats from hockey-reference.com)

Some added production in the top six would be a welcomed addition. Toronto general manager Kyle Dubas might not be willing to make a deal yet, but if the team’s production doesn’t improve, he might not have a choice.

The team needs to have scoring threats outside of their core four players. In this article, I will look at a few players on expiring contracts that Toronto could use as rentals for this season. They may not all play in the top six, but they add secondary scoring.

Photo Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /

Ivan Barbashev is in his seventh season with the St. Louis Blues.

The soon-to-be 27-year-old was drafted by the Blues in the second round of the 2014 NHL draft with the 33rd overall pick. He currently has three goals and five assists for eight points in 16 games this season.

Barbashev’s 2021-22 season saw him record 26 goals and 34 assists for 60 points in 81 games.

The Toronto Maple Leafs would benefit if he could come close to duplicating those numbers. He can play left-wing on one of Toronto’s top two lines or be their third-line center.

He has a contract that carries a $2.5 million salary cap hit. Barbashev could be a cheaper replacement for Alex Kerfoot.

Acquiring him could cost Toronto a second-round pick and a young player like Nick Robertson or Joey Anderson. A trade for Barbashev is one I think GM Kyle Dubas should look at doing to shore up some secondary scoring for the 2023 NHL playoffs.
(Salary cap info: capfriendly.com)

The Toronto Maple Leafs don’t own a second-round pick in 2023 but could acquire one by trading away Kerfoot.

They could then use that pick or their 2024 second-round pick in a deal for Barbashev. Considering that the Blues also do not own a pick in the second round for the 2023 NHL draft, Toronto would be giving them more of what they want by giving them the 2023 pick they could acquire for Kerfoot.

Photo Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports /

Sean Monahan is in his tenth NHL season.

The 28-year-old got drafted by the Calgary Flames in the first round of the 2013 NHL draft with the 6th overall pick. He has three goals and six assists for nine points in 17 games this season.

Monahan struggled during his last two seasons in Calgary but has rediscovered his scoring touch with the Montreal Canadiens.

It could be a tall order for him to reach 82 points in 78 games, as he had during the 2018-19 season. The Toronto Maple Leafs would be satisfied with the 22 goals and 26 assists for 48 points Monahan registered in the 2019-20 season.

Adding a player with Monahan’s skill set to Toronto’s lineup would be a great move.

The Maple Leafs and Canadiens are not known for making many deals together, but that’s not to say they wouldn’t. Should the Canadiens find themselves out of contention later in the season, they might look to unload Monahan and his $6.375 million contract.

The Toronto Maple Leafs would need to move multiple pieces to fit Monahan under their salary cap, but depending on how serious Toronto is at acquiring him, Montreal might retain 50% of Monahan’s salary.

. Toronto could make Monahan fit under their cap at 50% retained plus pieces going the other way.

Conor Sheary is in his eighth NHL season.

The 30-year-old has seven goals and three assists for 10 points in 19 games this season.

His primary position is left-wing, and I think he would complement either of Toronto’s top two lines.

Sheary recorded 19 goals and 24 assists for 43 points in 71 games last season.

He is in the final year of his contract with a $1.5 million salary cap hit. For a team like Toronto that is nearly up against the salary cap, adding a player like Sheary for $1.5 million is a no-brainer. Acquiring him would likely cost a second or third-round pick, plus a prospect.

A major plus to adding Sheary to the Toronto Maple Leafs lineup is his 72 games of playoff experience.

He helped the Pittsburgh Penguins win back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2015-16 and 2016-17. To have that much experience of playing in the playoffs and still only be 30 years old is a luxury. A luxury the Toronto Maple Leafs would love to have in their top six.

Next. The Biggest Fish In the Market. dark

Fans are hoping that the Toronto Maple Leafs and GM Kyle Dubas make a move to upgrade the team’s top six. A deal might not happen right now, but upgrades are needed before the NHL trade deadline on March 3rd, 2023. Fans will have to keep their fingers crossed and hope that Dubas makes the right move(s).

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