What the Toronto Maple Leafs Need for the Playoffs

The Toronto Maple Leafs are going to go all-in for the playoffs.

The Toronto Maple Leafs might say nice things about getting players with term, but at the end of the day, they are going to get the best players available.

Rentals are maybe even preferable given their situation.

So here are the things that they should be doing to prepare for the playoffs.

Toronto Maple Leafs Playoff Preparation List

The Leafs need a big winger, a tank, who can hit, fight and shoot.  A player with a little grit who maybe brings an element they don’t already have.

The fact that Timo Meier is available, in his prime, on a dirt-cheap contract they can fit and then still add, makes him the prime target.

The Matthews Knies conversation is ridiculous.  Of course he is available in a trade.

So are this year’s first and next year’s.   Anything else is stupid.  The Leafs can and will trade their three biggest assets.

The second thing they need is a defenseman.  Preferably a top pairing one.  Preferably one who is large and can clear the front of the net and make opposing forwards pay a price.

Justin Holl is not going anywhere.  Since they clearly want another Justin Holl-style player *(huge, can move the puck, but not necessarily a traditional “big hitter”) you can guarantee they won’t get rid of him.

The calculous is pretty easy, and it leaves the team’s smallest left-hand defenseman who also is potentially elite and signed dirt-cheap to become their biggest trade chip.  Sandin is a great player, but trading from a position of strength in order to reconfigure the look of the lineup is a must.

They need to add a big rugged defender.  Liljegren, Rielly, Gio, Brodie and Holl are not going anywhere.  The math here is easy and obvious.

Plus: Sandin, Knies and a first probably can get you Timo Meier.

The Leafs need two things, Timo Meier, and Vladislav Gavrikov.

The booby-prize in this case would be Bo Horvat and Jake McCabe.  Still not too bad, but obviously not on the level of a Meier /Gavrikov.

One thing the Leafs will not do is add Luke Schenn.  Unless he’s free, and in that case, maybe they’ll bring him home as an 9th defender or something.

To recap: The Toronto Maple Leafs need to add two players at the deadline who are not depth options, but legitimate top-of-the-lineup stars.  At least one of these players needs to be a no-doubt superstar.

The Leafs will not be moving Engvall or Holl, but will likely move Kerfoot to facilitate the needed cap space. In order to make this happen, Matthews Knies, Rasmus Sandin, and 2 x first round picks will be available in trades.

You will not see the Leafs acquire Gudas, Domi or anyone silly like that.