2 Trades that Would Fix the Toronto Maple Leafs

Noah Hanifin Trade

The Toronto Maple Leafs top trade target should be Noah Hannifin, who is the best defenesman on the Calgary Flames, as opposed to Chris Tanev, who is the 4th best.

Dmitri Orlov was the best defenseman available at last year's trade deadline and the Boston Bruins acquired him and Garnett Hathaway for a 1st, 2nd and 3rd round pick and bottom-six forward Craig Smith. Hanifin is arguably the best defenseman available on the trade market, so Treliving will have to pay a hefty price to acquire him.

The Maple Leafs could trade their 1st round pick this year (2024), New York Islanders 3rd round pick (2024), Mikko Kokkonen and David Kampf for Noah Hanifin (48% retained).

That might not be enough, but it's a start. If the price is higher, the Leafs should pay it because they desperately need help at the top of their lineup.

Acquiring Hanfin would make the Maple Leafs a lot better than they are today, and unlike Tanev, there is at least a good possibility that Hanifin would have a major impact on the lineup.

Although Hanifin makes the Maple Leafs blue line much better, they still need another top 4 defensemen in order to make a deep run in the playoffs.