10 Massive Toronto Maple Leafs Trade Targets for the NHL Trade Deadline

Vladimir Tarasenko (RW)

In 2015,  Doug Armstrong and the Blues wanted to ensure that  Vladimir Tarasenko remained with the franchise for the maximum allowed time, eight years.

To do so, they inked the Yaroslavl, Russia native to a $60 million contract, carrying an annual cap hit of $7,500,000. Now, in the final year of the agreement, it may be time for Tarasenko and the Blues to part ways.

Tarasenko brings significant firepower wherever he ends up. Last season, in 75 games, he finished with 82 points on 34 goals and 48 assists. It was the sixth time in his career that he eclipsed the 30-goal mark. In 2016, he even scored 40. This season, the right-winger has started his campaign with 13 points in 17 games. Four of those points have come on goals.

Finding a sniper on Tarasenko’s level is extremely difficult.

The Toronto Maple Leafs won’t be the only team interested in bringing him into the fold. In order to get a deal done, Dubas is going to need to put together a significant package that will likely include a first-round draft pick and high end prospect.

It’s also important to remember that the Leafs will be competing against every other franchise looking to capture the Stanley Cup. If Dubas wants to make a splash and add the three-time all-star, he’s going to have to pay a premium price and ensure that the team has enough space to fit his salary under the cap.