5 Former Toronto Maple Leafs Who Could Return at Trade Deadline
Ex Toronto Maple Leafs Who Might Come Back:
No. 1: Alexander Barabanov
Remember when the Leafs signed Barabanov in April, 2020 and the entire Leafs community was excited about his skillset? The 25-year-old at the time was supposed to come in and be a wrecking ball for the Leafs, who was also going to provide skill up-front.
At $925K, he was the perfect player for the Leafs, as all signs pointed towards him out-performing that contract, similar to someone like Michael Bunting, currently.
Well, April, 2020 was a weird time and Barabanov only played 13 career games with the Leafs, before getting traded to the San Jose Sharks. In those 13 games, he only registered one assist, so it wasn’t a great debut, but he’s hit his potential now in San Jose.
In 120 games, he has 19 goals and 69 points, proving to be a very effective player. The Sharks gave him a two-year-deal worth $2.5M AAV, with a modified no-trade-clause, so they really hit the jackpot with him, unlike Toronto.
However, the Sharks are terrible and his name has been brought up as a potential trade target. As a result, the Leafs could bring him back with hopes that he’ll be the player they thought they were getting when they originally signed him in 2020.
No. 2: Calle Rosen
He’s been traded, and traded for, by the Leafs before, so could it happen again this year’s NHL Trade Deadline?
Rosen was famously traded in the Nazem Kadri deal which shipped them both to Colorado and then returned a few months later in a deal which involved Michael Hutchinson. The left-shot defenseman struggled to make an impact in the NHL with Toronto and Colorado, but has recently found his calling in St. Louis with the Blues.
In 34 games, Rosen has seven goals and 15 points and could be a cheap player to add to Toronto’s blue-line at only $762K AAV for the next two years.
Dubas is very familiar with this player and clearly likes him if he traded for him within the year after trading him, so it wouldn’t be shocking to see him added as depth defenseman. The Leafs need help with offense from the blue-line and his seven goals thus far suggests he can find the back of the net.
The Blues are in sell-mode, so look for them as a team that Toronto makes a deal with.
No. 3: Andreas Johnsson
The Leafs couldn’t have sold higher on Johnsson, as he hasn’t been able to replicate his 20-goal and 43 point season from 2017-18 since.
In fact, he’s struggled for most of his time in New Jersey, as he’s spent the majority of the season with the AHL’s Utica Comets this year.
Is Johnsson an NHLer anymore or will he be stuck as a lifetime AHLer? It’s hard to say at this point, but if the Devils are willing to eat half of Johnsson’s contract, he could turn back into his old self in Toronto.
During his time in Toronto, he was awesome. He had speed and seemed to fit in the top-six alongside good players. His game is fit more towards a top-six role, based on his size and skillset, so he could be a cheap option on the second-line, playing alongside a few players he used to have success with.
Personally, I wouldn’t bank on this player as a solution, but it wouldn’t be too crazy to believe that he’d give Johnsson another chance, especially after his incredible run with the Toronto Marlies during their Calder Cup season and 20-goal campaign with the Leafs.
No. 4: James Reimer
At $2.25M and on an expiring contract, Reimer is an affordable goalie option for the Leafs at the Trade Deadline this year.
Before you yell at your computer or smart phone and say that this would be a terrible transaction, hear me out. Reimer’s stats may not be starting goalie material this year, but over the past five years, he’s been a respectable NHL goalie.
With Matt Murray’s health in-question, Reimer could provide some stability down the stretch, but could also fill in, if the worst happens to Ilya Samsonov.
Imagine Reimer comes in during the playoffs and is the hero for Toronto, helping them finally win a playoff series? It would come full circle from the 4-1 Game 7 collapse against Boston 10 years ago and would turn him into a god in the city.
That’s obviously the last thing we want to happen, but if Murray can’t stay healthy, Reimer could be a solid back-up and worst-case scenario in case of injury.
No. 5: James van Riemsdyk
JVR (50 percent retained) for Alex Kerfoot straight up; who says no?
Van Riemsdyk was a beloved Leaf and one of the most reliable scorers in a dead era of Toronto hockey. In his last season in Toronto, he scored 36 goals and played amazing beside Mitch Marner, who he could reunite with.
Trading Kerfoot for JVR would be a perfect fit when you think about it.
As much as Kerfoot is a great utility man, playing up-and-down the line-up, van Riemsdyk is still a top-six forward. Despite his struggles in Philadelphia this year, he would still be a big addition to the Leafs top-six and his familiarity with Marner and others could work well.
It would still be a risk, but at least the money would work in that trade and you would be improving the roster.
Next. Kyle Dubas 5 Best Trades. dark
This probably won’t come to fruition, but JVR would be a welcomed fit back in Toronto and I think the fans would be happy to see him return.