The Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas remains without a contract extension.
It’s an interesting position for both he and the organization. That’s because instead of looking long term, there’s more urgency on Dubas to win now and earn his next deal. These circumstances could lead to a big Toronto Maple Leafs trade.
There are massive deals out there for players who will likely be moved. The Maple Leafs could make an enormous splash taking a run at pending restricted free agent Troy Terry.
Terry is one of if not the best player on a terrible Anaheim Ducks squad. While he would be a nice piece for that organization to retain, his value is greater in helping a team win now. Enter Dubas and the Maple Leafs.
The Trade the Toronto Maple Leafs Should Make
Terry will be looking for a large raise next season, which would mean that should the Leafs pull the trigger on a deal, they’ll need to find a way to fit in his next salary under the cap. That may not be a problem depending on who gets thrown into the package on its way to Anaheim.
With the Leafs expecting Holl’s time be coming to an end in Toronto, he could easily be one of the pieces headed south-west. There may be others Anaheim would want more. What would really make the deal work for the Ducks is acquiring talented youth from Toronto.
Terry is just 25 who can play both center and right wing. He has a 37 goal season, and is also a great defensive player.
Last season, he recorded 37 goals and 30 assists for a sum of 67 points in 75 games. He hasn’t lost a step and returned right back to that same player this season. To say that Terry is valuable would be an understatement. He’s a star.
That is why the Maple Leafs would need to provide the Ducks with a big haul to pry Terry away. It would likely include some of their prized prospects. It’s hard to imagine a scenario where Toronto could hang onto the likes of Matthew Knies and Ty Voit as they’d be the sort of players Anaheim would be asking for. The Ducks would also want at least one young NHL ready player.
If Anaheim was looking to replace Terry this year, they may be interested in trying to find someone who can replace some of his lost goal scoring. A good fit would be 21-year-old Nick Robertson. He doesn’t have the same ability to finish as Terry but by the time he’s 25, there’s a chance that area of his game improves.
A trade of this magnitude would be significant for both organizations. The Toronto Maple Leafs would be giving up a great deal of their future but the chances of going deep into the playoffs improve substantially.