Exploring Different Trade Scenarios for the Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs don’t appear like they’re done upgrading their roster.

With the current composition of the Toronto Maple Leafs, there is room for improvement and they have the assets to help make it happen.

Darren Dreger agrees. He mused over twitter, “Sense is, Dubas isn’t done, which emphasizes an all-in approach.” This could very well be the direction Toronto takes over the coming days.

The bulk of the trades in the NHL have historically come on deadline day. This gives the  Leafs time to dig deep into their pockets and pay for someone that makes them a true Stanley Cup contender.

Even though General Manager Kyle Dubas has already made a big move in acquiring Ryan O’Reilly along with Noel Acciari, he needs to do more.

That’s because it appears Dubas’s job is possibly on the line. To save it, he needs to be willing to sacrifice future assets and chase a ring. If this isn’t the route Dubas chooses and the Leafs have another early postseason exit, he could be watching another general manager making the decisions on the players and picks he protected.

The Leafs are poised to make another big move and there are players on the trading block that will help them go deep into the playoffs. Toronto has options, but they need to spend wisely on finding the right player(s) to help them win now.

The Trade That Won’t Happen

If the Leafs had their choice of any defenseman on the block to acquire, there’s no doubt it would be Erik Karlsson. Not only does he have term left on his contract, but he has been an explosion of offense this year and nearly unstoppable.

In the first 57 games of the campaign he has already registered 18 goals and 56 assists for a total of 74 points. Two players on the Leafs are tied as club leaders. They are William Nylander and Mitch Marner. They each have 66 points, which is eight less than the San Jose Sharks defenseman.

With the firepower Toronto already has up front, adding a professional scorer to the back end would be unfair. And even though Karlsson in blue and white would unlock a cheat mode, the Maple Leafs won’t be dealing for the 32-year-old Swede.

Karlsson isn’t heading to the Big Smoke because of his exorbitant ticket. He is playing on a $11.5 million cap hit. That will be connected to him for four more years beyond this one. It eats too great of a percentage of the cap for the Maple Leafs to manage if they want to try and retain their top players once they become free agents.

Additionally, Karlsson has a no-move-clause on his contract, which means that he can control his own destiny. With the right-shot defenseman finishing his current deal at age 37, there is strong potential that he loses a step or two before his contract is up. With the no-move-clause, the Leafs would be unable to ship out Karlsson if they were to become unhappy with his production.

It is too big a risk and too bloated a contract for the Maple Leafs. There’s no reason at this point for them to begin taking inventory of their assets and considering a trade.

The Real Sweet Deal

The Maple Leafs would really enjoy adding Vladislav Gavrikov. The left-side defenseman has been excellent for the Columbus Blue Jackets on his expiring contract. Gavrikov will be an unrestricted free agent at season’s end. Unlike Karlsson, Gavrikov’s cap hit is a manageable one at $2.8 million.

The 27-year-old would be a sweet addition for the Buds because of his ability to shut down opponents. It’s what he and his partner on the blue line, Andrew Peeke, have been doing in Columbus.

Gavrikov is the sort of players the Leafs want to deploy in the postseason when goals are become harder to score. Adding a true defender gives the Coach Sheldon Keefe someone he trusts to hop the boards and protect a lead.

Gavrikov wouldn’t need to play on Toronto’s top pairing to make an impact. However, he has been logging big minutes with the Blue Jackets. This season, he’s averaged 18:18 minutes per game. He’s also collected three goals and seven assists over 52 games.

It’s clear that Gavrikov will be on the move before the trade deadline. Just like Chychrun, Gavrikov has been held out of the lineup for “trade related purposes”. There will be a number of teams who make their pitch to the Blue Jackets for Gavrikov but hopefully, it will be the Toronto Maple Leafs who land him.

The Slam Dunk Trade

So far, the only players we’ve evaluated for a deadline deal has been defenders, but the slam dunk trade would actually be for a forward. While Timo Meier would help tear the doors off the competition, the asking price for him makes a trade too difficult for Dubas.

That’s why it would be incredible if the Maple Leafs were able to acquire Lawson Crouse from the Coyotes. He is a versatile player who can play on either wing, which then gives Keefe options when he prepares his lines pregame.

Crouse is 25-years-old from Mt. Brydges, Ontario. That’s just a two-hour drive from Toronto. A move to the Maple Leafs would give him plenty of opportunity to visit his hometown.

The 2015 first round draft pick became a 20-goal scorer for the first time last year. He’s back on pace to do it again this year. He has potted 19 goals so far on this campaign. In the first 52 games, he has registered 31 points which includes 12 assists.

Crouse is a player who can speed up the game for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He can also play on any one of their lines. There’s no doubt that if he were playing on Toronto’s top-six, his point totals would be even greater than they are right now.

Crouse currently owns a cap hit of $4.3 million. He is also locked up for four more seasons. Arizona may not want to let Crouse slip away but with the right offer, he could be packing his bags for Toronto by Mar. 3.

No matter what the Leafs are planning, this year’s trade deadline should be an exciting one especially if Dubas pushes his chips forward and goes all-in.