The Toronto Maple Leafs are not a team that needs much, if anything, in terms of reinforcements.
Eventually, the Toronto Maple Leafs are going to have to scratch players like Conor Timmins (whos averaging a point per game lately as a defenseman) and Zach Aston Reese or Pontus Holmberg who have been more or less great in their roles.
That is because their roster has been decimated by injuries and the guys who wouldn’t likely have gotten a chance otherwise have all stepped up.
It’s a good problem to have.
In addition, they might actually have some cap space and will be looking to improve at the deadline, regardless of how good they already are.
Chasing stars on expiring contracts is one way to get better.
Another is to take advantage of another team’s stupidity.
Enter the New York Rangers and Alexis Lafrenière
The Toronto Maple Leafs Should Trade for Alexis Lafrenière
Drafted 1st overall in 2020, the Rangers have completely botched the development of Lafrenière.
It’s not like he is doing terribly (54% Corsi, and he’s above 50% (just slightly) Expected Goals) but Alexis Lafrenière has just 5 goals and 17 points in 36 games. (naturalstattrick.com).
“Elite Wrist Shot”
“Off the Charts Compete-Level”
“Tenacity”
“Rare combination of physicality and speed”
These are just some of the things you can read if you google “Alexis Lafreniere Scouting Report.”
Which makes it hard to wonder why the Rangers put him directly to the NHL but consistently dressed him on the 3rd line and denied him top unit power-play time.
This season, Lafreniere has mostly dressed alongside Kappo Kakko, Victor Trocheck and Filip Chytil.
And yet, when has dressed with Panarin: 59% CF, 52% Expected Goals.
Obviously, anyone who dresses with Panarin will improve their game, but if you have a struggling #1 overall pick, why not pair them up more?
They basically never dress him with Zibanejad and never with Krieder. Seems to me you’d try those things before scratching and embarrassing a #1 overall pick.
Four forwards on the Rangers average over 4 minutes per game on the power-play. Lafreniere gets one minute.
For his three year career, he has averaged 14 total minutes as a rookie, 14 minutes as a sophomore, and then 15 minutes per game this year.
For comparison’s sake, a top forward like Mitch Marner of the Toronto Maple Leafs averaged 16:23 as a rookie and was up to 19 minutes per game in his 3rd year. He is getting almost 23 minutes per game this year.
The problem is clearly that the Rangers put their top guy on the 3rd line and said “prove it” instead of just saying “you were the #1 overall pick, so we’re going to give you every chance to succeed.”
It’s a very stupid, old-school, way of doing things, and clearly the player who has been the best and played in every important minute of every single game he ever dressed for doesn’t really respond to very stupid, immature, outdated, coaching tactics.
The Leafs need a second line left winger.
They could use a player on an Entry-Level deal.
The Rangers clearly don’t want to trade their prized prospect, but they are also very clearly burning bridges they can’t unburn.
I guarantee you Lafreniere’s response to being scratched was more like “Hey why don’t you give me an extra 3 minutes of PP time and dress me with Chris Krieder For………” rather than “Oh good point coach, I should just try harder.”
Being a good NHL GM is about taking advantage of how bad your fellow GMs are. Whatever the Rangers want for Lafreniere, give it to them.
Given the emergence of Conor Timmins and the fact that Justin Holl recently became indispensable, a Rasmus Sandin for Alexis Lafreniere trade makes perfect sense. The Leafs would be trading one potentially elite player for another, while dealing from a position of strength.
Failing that, just throw prospects at them until they agree. Adding a player like this would be absolutely nuts. It’s probably not likely, but a boy can dream at Christmas time!