5 Great Options for One Big Summer Trade for the Toronto Maple Leafs

Trevor Zegras

Age: 23

Position: Centre

Status: Somewhat disappointing. Zegras has played four years in the NHL and is yet to establish himself as a star player. He had two very strong seasons where he scored over 20 goals and over 60 points, but last year was an injury riddled disaster.

Why He'd Help: Zegras is a special player with insane talent. But it's not just trick shots, he's a great puck-retriever because he's fast and he works hard, and he will likely get better defensively as he gets older. He's a great playmaker, but also a great shooter. He could score 40 goals and be a high-end second-line centre or a B-level franchise centre.

If the Leafs don't think they can turn Marner into a centre, then Zegras is a very good option for playing behind Matthews for the next several years.

After a lost year he could be a solid buy-low candidate with great upside.

Why He Wouldn't: He's going to cost a lot to trade for. Despite being a buy-low candidate, he's not going to be as cheap as Laine. Zegras would cost a top prospect, but the ceiling of Zegras probably makes it worth at least considering.

Recommended Trade: Easton Cowan for Trevor Zegras. This would be the cost, but I'm not saying whether the Leafs should do it. They've have to compare Cowan's ability to help now on an ELC vs the chances Zegres reaches his celling. Also, is Cowan a late-blooming superstar picked low in the draft, or did he just have an awesome year he will never live up to?

It's hard for me to see around the hype, but the Leafs, who presumably have scouts who've seen hundreds of hours of Easton Cowan footage, would have to make the call here.

The answer's to these questions would determine if the Leafs should make this trade.