Toronto Maple Leafs: Top 10 Trade Deadline Bait Board
No. 10 Toronto Maple Leafs Potential Trade Target: Max Domi
I feel like I’ve been writing about wanting the Toronto Maple Leafs to acquire Domi for a decade now. However, I continue to beat the drum with this acquisition because it makes a ton of sense.
Not only would it be so much fun to have another Domi wear a Leafs jersey and have Tie in the building a bunch, but his skillset would fit in the Leafs line-up admirably.
Drafted 12th overall in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, Domi was electric in the OHL alongside Mitch Marner with the London Knights. Although his career hasn’t panned out like Marner’s, he’s still an asset.
Domi hasn’t had the opportunity of playing with high-skilled players that much in his career, but when he has, he’s excelled. He scored 28 goals in the 2018-19 season and a lot of that had to do with his linemates.
I truly think if Domi plays alongside Auston Matthews or Mitch Marner, he will find the right areas and score a bunch of goals. I want this to happen more than any other trade, so although he’s not one of the sexiest names, I think this move could really help the team.
No. 9: Jonathan Toews
His contract is crazy expensive but he still should be on this list because of his pedigree.
When you have a chance to acquire a captain of three Stanley Cup championship’s, you have to do it. I have no idea what the cost would be or how this trade even works, but Toews still needs to be talked about because of who he is.
Despite playing on a terrible team this year, Toews has 11 goals and 22 points and is playing well. He’s clearly not putting up the same stats he used to, but that’s okay.
You’re only acquiring Toews for the playoffs, so it doesn’t matter how well he plays in the regular season. Once the playoffs start, you would hope that Toews’ leadership would elevate his game, and his teammates’, and you’d get that old player he once was.
Playoffs Toews is one of the best leaders of the past two decades and he would be a huge difference-maker to any team he plays on. He hasn’t had the opportunity of playing in the post-season for a few years, so I think joining a team such as Toronto would really energize his performance and he’d be the steal of the Trade Deadline.
Toews helped break the Chicago Blackhawks championship drought, so we’d all love to see it happen again with Toronto.
No. 8: Vladimir Tarasenko
Tarasenko is currently injured, but that shouldn’t stop the Leafs from acquiring him.
At $7M AAV, his contract is expensive but it only has one-year left on it, which makes it much more affordable. There’s zero chance that Toronto could afford his contract next year, so this would strictly be a rental, but it could be a risk that could turn the Toronto Maple Leafs from contender to favorite.
There aren’t too many players in the NHL that are skilled as Tarasenko that will be available at the NHL Trade Deadline this year. The right-winger has six 30-plus goal seasons and was on his way to having another one this year if he didn’t get injured.
Injuries have been a concern for him in the past but if he’s healthy for a playoff run, he has the offensive upside to score a huge goal in a meaningful game.
He’s only a few years removed from winning a Stanley Cup and knows what it takes to win so that never hurts in the dressing room either.
No. 7: John Klingberg
Klingberg is the perfect defenseman for the Leafs and they should do whatever it takes to acquire him.
I thought they were going to trade for him last year but he ultimately stayed with Dallas at the Deadline, before signing with the Anaheim Ducks this offseason. By only signing a one-year deal, Klingberg bet on himself and will be once again be a huge trade target.
In fact, he just submitted his 10-team trade list and hopefully the Toronto Maple Leafs are on there.
Klingberg not only can help a blue-line offensively, but he can eat up minutes and play a top-four role with any team. In addition, his 6-foot-3, 190 pound frame makes him a tough player to battle with in the corners.
His best performance came in the Bubble when he was a top-pairing defenseman leading the Stars to a Stanley Cup Finals appearance, scoring 21 points in 26 playoff games.
Although no fans were in attendance, that type of experience is important and would really help the Leafs who are relying heavily on their two youngest defenseman.
No. 6: Matt Dumba
Dumba’s another player that has been rumored to the Leafs for a long-time and it makes sense.
His contract was reasonable ($6M AAV) and he was a right-handed.
Despite his size, he’s a physical player to play against and someone who battles on every possession.
He’s the type of defenseman that Toronto desperately needs and is someone who should be very high on their list.
His offensive numbers have dropped over the years, but I feel like they could be elevated in Toronto as the Leafs skillset is much better than the Wild’s.
At 28-years-old, Dumba is going to highly coveted as a UFA this summer, but that shouldn’t scare the Leafs from looking to trade for him.
This team is in a win-now mode so trading for someone who they probably can’t afford to sign next year is fine.
ELMONT, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 06: Ryan O’Reilly #90 of the St. Louis Blues skates against the New York Islanders at the UBS Arena on December 06, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
No. 5: Ryan O’Reilly
Similar to Tarasenko, O’Reilly is currently injured but he should be back in the next month or so.
Although he’s No. 5 on this list, he’s No. 1 for me because he fits everything that Toronto needs.
The Leafs need a top-six forward, which he is, and they could use someone who’s defensively sound and can play centre or wing
. I do love Tavares’ game this year, but I feel like he would be more benefited playing on the wing.
A second-line of Tavares-O”Reilly-Marner would be legendary because not only will all three of those forwards provide a strong ability to score, but they can shutdown their opponent. They’re all very good defensively and I’d feel like they would never get scored against when on the ice.
The former Conn Smythe winner is a captain and a leader and is very familiar with Toronto as he has a house here in the summer.
Moving to Toronto mid-way through the season wouldn’t be that big of a change for him and his family, and if the Blues are willing to trade him, Toronto should be the team that acquires him.
No. 4: Eric Karlsson
I would be shocked if Toronto traded for Karlsson but he needs to be on this list because he looks available this year.
Karlsson’s numbers are outrageous this season and he’s playing like the top-five player he once was with the Ottawa Senators.
With 56 points in 44 games, Karlsson leads all defenseman in scoring and is right up there in even-strength points across all players in the NHL.
If there was no salary cap, Karlsson could be No. 1 on this list, but his salary is so expensive that I can’t see it working in Toronto.
The Toronto Maple Leafs already have three players making $10M-plus, so I just don’t see them being able to add another.
However, since this is a Dream Trade Bait Board, there is one solution that could potentially work. Jake Muzzin and TJ Brodie’s contracts equal $10.625M so maybe there’s a way to make the money work by trading two defenseman for one.
You’d still have to throw-in draft picks and prospects, but if they could acquire Karlsson without giving up a core-four forward, then it could be worth the risk.
No. 3: Bo Horvat
Horvat couldn’t have picked a better season to play his best hockey as he’s going to make bank this summer when he’s a UFA.
With 29 goals in 41 games, Horvat is on-pace to score 60 goals, although he’ll more than likely finish shy of 50. He’s a good player but it takes a special one to be that consistent for 82 games, but we’ll see what happens.
Regardless of where he finishes, any team would be lucky to have Horvat. He’s always been a consistent 20-goal scorer and a game-breaker, who can be a difference.
Although it’s a small sample size, we’ve seen Horvat play some of his best hockey in the playoffs, as he finished with 10 goals in 17 playoff games in 2020.
Based on his price-tag and crazy ability to score this season, Horvat is going to be highly-touted at the Trade Deadline this year.
It’s unsure whether or not Vancouver will trade him, as I’m sure they’d love to sign him, but it feels like contract negotiations have been going terrible lately.
It’ll take a big price to get him but if the Toronto Maple Leafs were willing to make a huge risk to mortgage the future, now is the right time to do it.
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.
No. 1: Patrick Kane
Patrick Kane needs to be a member of the Maple Leafs. Born and raised 1.5 hours from Toronto, Kane has taken an Original Six team from the Lottery Draft to the Stanley Cup not once but three times.
His unbelievable skillset would look amazing beside Matthews and the two of them could be an even better duo than him and Marner. Kane’s point-per-game playoff experience (132 points in 132 games), three Stanley Cup’s and Conn Smythe Trophy make him the best dream trade scenario for Toronto, as he would push this team over the edge.
Obviously his contract is expensive, but as previously mentioned, there’s ways to make it work. Whether Chicago retains 50% of the deal or the Toronto Maple Leafs get creative with who they trade, Kane coming to Toronto would seriously make them the Stanley Cup favorite.
Their top-six would be impossible to match and it could even push Nylander down to the third-line to give this team even more depth than possible. Or you could just make the first-line a juggernaut and go with Nylander-Matthews-Kane and watch them score every time they’re on the ice.
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If Toronto acquired Kane, I’d lose my mind, so let’s please make this happen.