5 Great Options for One Big Summer Trade for the Toronto Maple Leafs
By James Tanner
Patrik Laine
Age: 26
Position: Winger - shoots right
Status: 2 Years Left on a contract with an $8.7 million cap-hit.
Why He'd Help: It's a buy-low opportunity on a player with Franchise Level Talent. The opportunity is here to get an elite scorer for pennies on the dollar.
Assuming 50% retention of the contract, the Leafs would be making a trade with the hope of hitting a grand-slam. Depending on the cost, the risk vs reward on a Patrik Laine trade has the potential to be extremely favorable.
Also he's 6'5, 215 LBS.
Why He Wouldn't: Hasn't played over 60 games in the last four seasons. You have to go back to 2017-18 to find a season where he was living up to his billing as a top-of-the-draft franchise player.
He also has a crazy high cap-hit for what he brings. Appears to be extremely injury prone. Biggest strength is his shot but he's coming off shoulder surgery, so will that affect it?
Recommended Trade: Fraser Minten (high floor, low ceiling) and an unprotected future first round pick.