Toronto Maple Leafs: 3 Trade Targets for Brad Treliving

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It’s no secret that the Toronto Maple Leafs are looking to make a trade right now.

Although the Toronto Maple Leafs have a decent record after 15 games played, they’re lucky to be where they are right now and GM Brad Treliving should be worried for his job.

However, if Treliving is going to make a move, he’s probably going to target his former club to do so. If you thought the Leafs were off to a bad start, you should just look at his old team, the Calgary Flames.

In April, the Flames and Treliving agreed to “mutually part ways” which is just a nice way to say we’ve fired you.

He was with the club for such a long time that I think that’s why they communicated it that way, because he sent the team back years.

Trading for Jonathan Huberdeau and signing Nazem Kadri didn’t fit at all and the entire team is in shambles.

They’re clearly in a rebuilding phase when it looked like they were set up for long-term success with Jacob Markstrom, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.

The team may be having a terrible season, but that could benefit the Leafs who desperately need an upgrade on defense.

Calgary may be off to a bad start, but they have some pieces on defense that could really help the Leafs. As a result, here are three players who the Toronto Maple Leafs will look to target sooner than later.

OTTAWA, CANADA – NOVEMBER 11: Chris Tanev #8 of the Calgary Flames . (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images) /

Toronto Maple Leafs: 3 Trade Targets for Brad Treliving

No. 1: Chris Tanev

It’s been reported that the Calgary Flames are looking for a young prospect in return for Tanev, which I don’t love the Leafs, but it all depends who that “prospect” is.

Based on his age, you could technically consider Timothy Liljegren a prospect, although he was drafted in 2018.

This would not be a good trade, as it’s entirely possible, even likely, that Liljegren is the better player right now. Before he was injured, Liljegren was posting great numbers in a top-four role and should be one of the closest things the Leafs have to untouchable.

I’d hate for them to give up Liljegren for Tanev and don’t think that would improve the roster, however let’s disregard who they’d have to give up and focus more on who they’d be getting with Tanev.

The Toronto, ON native has 730-plus games of NHL experience and someone who’s a defense-first, defenseman. The Leafs clearly don’t need any defenseman who can contribute offensively, as we’ve seen that fail with John Klingberg, so bringing in someone like Tanev would be a welcomed fit.

As much as his experience helps, he’s not going to make the Leafs a contender by any means but he will help solidify the core.

They would still need to add another player, like the few I’m going to mention, but I would like to see the team trade for this player.

MONTREAL, CANADA – NOVEMBER 14: Nikita Zadorov #16 of the Calgary Flames (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

No. 2: Nikita Zadorov

As much as Tanev would help, I think the Leafs would be better suited looking at Zadorov.

The Leafs must have one of the least physically imposing blue-lines ever assembled in the entire history of the NHL, and Zadorov is someone who would instantly fix that.

He is huge.

At 6-foot-6, 250 pounds, Zadorov’s size and defensive style can make him effective in front of the net, clearing space for the goaltender and disrupting opposing forwards.

He may look big and slow during the regular season, but he could be particularly valuable in playoff scenarios where a more physical style of play often becomes prevalent.

Despite being so big, he actually has a really solid ability to move the puck up the ice, which is the best of both world’s for the Leafs.

Ideally, you’d love to see a player who can move the puck fast to Toronto’s speedy and skilled forwards and then can crush people down low.

Luke Schenn did a pretty good job with both of those things when he returned to the Leafs last year, so you’d be looking at Zadorov to be a slightly better Schenn if he joined the roster.

With a cap-hit of $3.75M, I’d love to see some sort of a Klingberg for Zadorov trade, if Toronto threw in a sweetener (prospect and a draft pick), but who knows if Calgary would be willing to do that.

Zadorov is a solid defender who likely won’t score too much, and who does sap some of his value by taking a lot of penalties. He is a great target for the Leafs, but he’s not a game-changer and they shouldn’t overpay.

CALGARY, CANADA – FEBRUARY 28: Noah Hanifin #55 of the Calgary Flames (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images) /

No. 3: Noah Hanifin

With one year left on his contract at just under $5M AAV, Hanifin is a little more expensive for the Leafs, but he could be the only one worth paying for.

While he hasn’t ever really lived up to his potential, he’s young enough that he still could. And, even if not, what he already is is still pretty good.

The former No. 5 overall selection in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft went right after Mitch Marner and has been a solid defenseman for his entire career.

While he hasn’t lived up to his draft potential, he has definitely been considered a top-four defenseman throughout his entire career, and he’s a better player than either Tanev or Zadorov.

Hanifin can contribute at both ends of the ice, so if the Toronto Maple Leafs are focused on bringing in a player who isn’t just a stay-at-home defenseman, than Hanifin may be their guy.

The one issue with this trade is obviously his contract situation and they’re willing to risk it for a rental.

I never have an issue with the Leafs going all-in on a rental player but is Hanifin really the player you want to trade big prospects and draft picks for when he can leave in the summer?

Next. Leafs Should Not Trade for Kane. dark

I’d be a little worrisome on that, but at the end of the day, he would definitely help this roster if the Leafs traded for him.

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