Toronto Maple Leafs: Top 4 Best Dubas Deadline Moves

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The NHL Trade Deadline will be here before we know it, so can the Toronto Maple Leafs finally acquire a big-fish and help their chances at winning a Stanley Cup?

Over his tenure, Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas has done a great job, but as we looked at previously, he’s made a few bad trades. Like any executive, you’re not going to be perfect in trades, so when you compare his good to his bad, they’re pretty equal.

As we all know, the Leafs are in a win-now mode and have been for the past few years. With Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner leading the charge, the team could use one more superstar to legitimize the roster and give them a real chance at a playoff-push.

At this current stage, the Leafs are not good enough to win a Stanley Cup. Their depth is not as good as the Boston Bruins, as well as their goaltending. They could use a legitimate top-four defenseman to eat up the Jake Muzzin minutes, but could also use another top-six left-winger and potentially a third-line centre to help with scoring.

It’s possible that the Leafs core-four can generate enough for them to win, but as shown in previous playoff series’, that’s not something this team can count on.

They need offense from players who you don’t expect, so in order to be successful this playoff-run, it would be best suited for them to make a big trade.

Speaking of big trades, let’s take a look at the Leafs best trade deadline acquisitions in the Kyle Dubas era.

As mentioned, normal offseason trades or early season trades don’t count, but instead we’ll only be looking at those around the Trade Deadline.

TORONTO, ON – MARCH 27: Ilya Lyubushkin #46 of the Toronto Maple Leafs (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

The Toronto Maple Leafs GM’s Best Deadline Moves:

No. 4: Ilya Lyubushkin

Toronto Maple Leafs acquire: Ilya Lyubushkin and Ryan Dzingel
Arizona Coyotes acquire: Nick Ritchie and 2025 2nd Round Pick

I know that Lyubushkin isn’t going to end up on Legends Row with the Leafs, but you have to give Dubas a ton of credit for this trade.

Lyubushkin turned into a top-four defenseman with the team and was able to play 16:28 TOI per night, eating up a lot of minutes. Not only did he play legitimate minutes with the team, but he added physicality and a different edge to the Leafs defensive-core, that they’re missing this year.

However, the biggest reason why this trade is in the top-four is because they were able to trade away Nick Ritchie. When Ritchie was originally signed, many (including myself) loved the pick-up.

A big power-forward was joining the Leafs top-six and was going to be that missing piece beside Matthews and Marner. So, we thought…

Instead, he was slow and didn’t fit in with the Toronto Maple Leafs, barely providing any offense. As a result, Dubas did a wonderful job getting rid of Ritchie and absolutely rinsed the Coyotes by getting them give up Lyubushkin in exchange.

Mark Giordano #55 of the Toronto Maple Leafs (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

No. 3: Mark Giordano

Toronto Maple Leafs acquire: Mark Giordano and Colin Blackwell
Seattle Kraken acquire: 2022 2nd Round Pick, 2023 2nd Round Pick, 2024 4rd Round Pick

Before we talk about Giordano, Blackwell was a welcomed addition to the club.

If the Leafs are looking at making a move again this trade deadline, they should look at another trade like this, as they were able to acquire a depth centre and a top-four defenseman.

Giordano cracks the top-three of this trade list because not only were they able to acquire him for the stretch run of the playoffs, but they locked him up at $800K for two more years.

Despite being 39-years-old, Giordano still plays at a high-level and his hockey IQ makes him one of the Toronto Maple Leafs best defenseman.

He was one of the most highly talked about defenseman at the NHL Trade Deadline last year, so it speaks highly to Dubas to be able to acquire him and Blackwell without giving up a first round pick.

Feb 10, 2022; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Muzzin (8) Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 2: Jake Muzzin

Toronto Maple Leafs acquire: Jake Muzzin
LA Kings acquire: Carl Grundstrom, Sean Durzi and 2019 1st Round Pick

Muzzin would probably have ended up No. 1 on this list but there’s two reasons he didn’t. First, his health has became a huge issue that he may have to consider retirement at 33-years-old and second, the team gave up Durzi, who’s turned into a great NHLer.

Despite giving up a fantastic prospect in Durzi, that trade was well worth it for the Leafs who needed to acquire a top-four defenseman with Stanley Cup playoff experience.

Muzzin was clearly a leader for this team, before getting hurt, and his style of play fit the team’s blue-line perfectly. If healthy, he would still be a top-four defenseman and someone you trade for every day of the week.

Obviously, the playoff success didn’t work out with Muzzin around, but this was a fantastic trade for the Leafs, showing that they can acquire skill through trade and not just through drafting and free agency.

May 6, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Jack Campbell (36) Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 1: Jack Campbell

Toronto Maple Leafs acquire: Jack Campbell and Kyle Clifford
LA Kings acquire: Trevor Moore, 2020 3rd Round Pick, 2021 3rd Round Pick

The Toronto Maple Leafs addressed two things in this trade. They acquired a future starting goalie and added toughness, which was something they lacked.

Sure, Clifford didn’t do much with the Leafs and his biggest highlight was a five-minute major in Game 1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning last year, but acquiring Campbell at such a low cost was a huge risk that paid off for Dubas.

Campbell saw some injury troubles too, but overall, his stats as the Leafs starting goaltender were incredible. He’s struggled in Edmonton, but as a member of the Leafs, he was a huge fan-favorite, with the arena screaming “SOUUUUUP” every time he made a big save.

I know they never won in the playoffs, but Campbell wasn’t really the issue. In both Game 7’s, Campbell played well, but his team failed to provide offense. There were a few stops that he should have made, but only giving up a prospect and two third-round picks for a starting goalie is hard to accomplish.

I always liked Moore and he’s thriving in Los Angeles, but he’s not a difference-maker to a team, compared to Campbell, who was.

Next. 3 Trades To Make Leafs Cup Favorites. dark

Campbell’s time in Toronto was one we should all remember and as a result, it goes down as Dubas’ best trade deadline acquisition throughout his tenure thus far.

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