3 Toronto Maple Leafs Most Likely To Be Traded This Year

The Toronto Maple Leafs have a ton of depth, and some LTIR money, which means a big trade could be looming.

Over the past few seasons, we’ve seen a number of trades by the Toronto Maple Leafs, but we haven’t typically seen real roster players moved. What I mean by that is that it’s usually draft picks and prospects, instead of someone who’s playing regular minutes.

However, that should change this year.

The depth of the Leafs organization is crazy. Even without talking about Matthews Knies who could join the team for the playoffs, the Toronto Marlies are continuing to pump out prospect after prospect.

Whether it’s Pontus Holmberg, Nick Robertson, Mac Hollowell or Semyon Der-Arguchintsev, the team is continuing to fill their roster with players who many didn’t expect to be in the line-up. Injuries have a lot to do with it, but at the same time, some of the forwards have played themselves into a full-time roster spot, like Holmberg.

The list at forward continues as the likes of Joey Anderson, Alex Steeves or Nick Abruzzese could all crack the Leafs bottom-six over the next few months, which means the team should be able to shed some cap-space for forwards making too much money.

It’s no secret that the Leafs need another top-six winger or top-four defenseman, so in order to acquire someone like that, trading one of these four players could make a lot of sense.

As such, here are the three most likely Toronto Maple Leafs to get traded this year.

No. 1: Nick Robertson

Robertson has all of the skill in the world but is he going to be an impact player on this team within the next two seasons?

If the answer is “no” than the team could risk trading him because it’ll give them the best opportunity to acquire a high-end player in-return.

Robertson is young and still raw, but he’s a never-quit-buzz-saw and has an amazing shot.  The fact that he isn’t a regular in this lineup says more about the lineup than it says about him.

In the right opportunity could be a top-six forward every day of the week. However, it’s yet to happen with the Leafs and I’m not too sure if it’s going to happen this year.

If he can fill the net on an entry-level contract, he’s incredibly valuable.  But if the Leafs want to add a star forward to go on their second line, then he may be more valuable as an asset than as a player.

As previously mentioned, Matthew Knies is still in the system and could fill the role for that top-six winger on an Entry Level deal. In a perfect world, you’d want Robertson and Knies in that role, but Robertson’s yet to establish himself.

I’d prefer the team not trade him but if it meant acquiring a star, than you have to make the trade. The team needs to win within the next two years, so if it means potentially walking away from a 30-goal scorer in five years for a player who can do it now, it’s worth it.

No. 2: Pierre Engvall

There’s no player that frustrates me more than Pierre Engvall.

The 6-foot-5 winger makes $2.25M AAV and plays like he’s 5-foot-6. He brings no grit, energy or toughness and at the same time, barely provides any offense.

He’ll make a good play twice a month and besides that, he’s kind of a waste of space.

He makes way too much money to play in the team’s bottom-six and would be a welcomed trade, even if it meant the team was only acquiring draft picks or prospects. Engvall isn’t going to move the dial in a trade for a big-name, but instead would be someone you get rid of to acquire cap-space.

I am may not be an Engvall fan, but he’s a solid defender who last year was paired with David Kampf and played some of the toughest minutes in the NHL and came out on top.

He may be frustrating because his size makes you want more, but he’s a quietly effective player who brings solid value and helps the team.