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Toronto Maple Leafs: 3 Under the Radar Trades for a Defenseman

By Jeff Borsuk

HAMILTON, ON -MARCH 12: General Manager Kyle Dubas of the Toronto Maple Leafs heads to a breazy practice prior a game against the Buffalo Sabres during the 2022 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic at Tim Hortons Field on March 12, 2022 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
HAMILTON, ON -MARCH 12: General Manager Kyle Dubas of the Toronto Maple Leafs heads to a breazy practice prior a game against the Buffalo Sabres during the 2022 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic at Tim Hortons Field on March 12, 2022 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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The Toronto Maple Leafs are one of the NHL’s best teams, and as such they will be looking to improve their team as they head into the playoffs.

The Toronto Maple Leafs could trade for a superstar this season, but in order to do that, it will cost them a lot.

If General Manager Kyle Dubas doesn’t want to give up a big package that would mortgage the team’s future, the better option is to find a player that’s under the radar.

Dubas has already assembled an excellent group this season, but there are clear holes in the lineup, especially with all the injuries that have plagued the Maple Leaf on defense. Any transaction that he makes needs to be with a clear purpose and to upgrade team performance. This would be for either long term success in the playoffs or for the short term, filling a roster spot until a more valuable player comes off the injured reserve list.

The Right Ingredients for a Trade

To help determine who will be on the trading block, the best bet is to look at team success and the individual’s contract. If the player will become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) and their club won’t be advancing to the playoffs, there’s a good chance that the organization will look to gain some value back before losing the player to free agency.

Though other players are made available for the right return, we will concentrate on finding under the radar pending UFAs.

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