Toronto Maple Leafs: Top 10 Trade Deadline Bait Board

SAN JOSE, CA - JANUARY 25: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Patrick Kane #88 of the Chicago Blackhawks warm up during the 2019 SAP NHL All-Star Skills at SAP Center on January 25, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, CA - JANUARY 25: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Patrick Kane #88 of the Chicago Blackhawks warm up during the 2019 SAP NHL All-Star Skills at SAP Center on January 25, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
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Toronto Maple Leafs
VANCOUVER, CANADA – DECEMBER 27: Timo Meier #28 of the San Jose Sharks skates with the puck during the first period of their NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on December 27, 2022 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images)

No. 2: Timo Meier

The soon-to-be RFA is a steal at $6M and is one of the bright spots on the Sharks this year, along with Karlsson.

Meier is a point-per-game player so far and already has 24 goals on the season. He’s a first-line right-winger on any team, but as a left-handed shot, he should be able to transition to the left-wing easily.

Since he plays on the West Coast, his game is less familiar with Toronto Maple Leafs fans, but trust me that this player is worth every penny. He’s played with some good talent in San Jose, but paired beside Auston Matthews or Mitch Marner, his game would flourish.

His $6M is expensive but it’s a doable contract and since he’s a pending RFA, the Leafs can hold his rights and trade him for something if they can’t afford to re-sign him.

He’d be a perfect rental but instead of losing him for nothing at the Deadline, they could get something in return by trading him or someone giving him an Offer Sheet, which is unlikely.