5 NHL Trade Deadline Deals the Toronto Maple Leafs Should Consider
Are the Toronto Maple Leafs done making moves? As the March 8th NHL Trade Deadline approaches, there are a few players rumoured to be available that could have a major impact on the Maple Leafs heading into the post-season.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are once again a top 10 team in the NHL and could make a push into the later rounds of the NHL playoffs this season.
They've been on a tear with a recent seven game win streak and have gotten a boost with some of their newer secondary scoring threats finally clicking with the team.
With the recent re-acquisition of Ilya Lyubushkin, and T.J. Brodie showing chemistry on Timothy Liljegren's left-side, are the Toronto Maple Leafs done tinkering with their defense? If you asked me last week, I would've said the biggest need for the Toronto Maple Leafs was on defense. Though their defense isn't perfect, there may now be more pressing needs.
What do the Toronto Maple Leafs need at the NHL Trade Deadline?
How do you feel about this Toronto Maple Leafs roster down the middle with Max Domi as the second line centre and the regressing John Tavares on the third line? Is Ilya Samsonov back to form? Does Joseph Woll have the necessary experience to take the Maple Leafs on a deep run?
These questions could be answered with trades. Here are 5 players rumoured to be available before the NHL Trade Deadline that could have an impact on the Toronto Maple Leafs:
5. David Savard - Stanley Cup experience for the Toronto Maple Leafs
If the Toronto Maple Leafs were to bring in another defense, David Savard would be a great fit.
He's a right-shot defense-first defenseman with a real knack for blocking shots.
He has size, but doesn't through his body around too much. He's a 33 year-old veteran presence with Stanley Cup experience who still has some juice left in him.
He was a trade deadline acquisition for the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2021, and helped them bring home the Stanley Cup.
Savard could be a great fit on a few pairings for the Toronto Maple Leafs who always seem to be looking for right-shot defensemen. He could pair nicely with Morgan Rielly, but he might fit best beside T.J. Brodie on a bottom pairing with an increased role on the penalty kill.
David Savard has another year left on his contract with a cap hit of $3.5 million after this season. The Montreal Canadiens should be able to retain salary, but even if they don't, the Toronto Maple Leafs should be able to squeeze him in under the cap.
Trade rumours have been very quiet in Montreal despite the team currently sitting 15 points out of a playoff spot. David Savard and Jake Allen seem like their most likely trade candidates. I think Savard could be had for a few mid-level picks or prospects with salary retention.
4. Andrew Peeke - Needs a fresh start with the Toronto Maple Leafs
A guy who could really thrive with a change of scenery in Andrew Peeke. The 25 year-old defenseman averaged over 21 minutes of ice-time for the Columbus Blue Jackets over the past two seasons, but due to the team acquiring Ivan Provorov and Damon Severson in the off-season and perhaps the Blue Jackets coaching change, Peeke has seen significantly less ice-time.
He seems to have fallen out of favour with head coach, Pascal Vincent, and has been a healthy scratch at times. The Colombus Blue Jackets are sitting dead last in the Eastern Conference and Andrew Peeke certainly can not be blamed for that.
Peeke is a stay-at-home defenseman with a large frame. He's a gritty guy who throws his weight around and isn't afraid to sacrifice himself to block a shot. Being a member of the Blue Jackets, he hasn't seen a lot of playoff hockey, but he's built for the playoffs.
A former 34th overall NHL draft pick, Peeke still has potential and it would be great to see what he can do on a good team. His $2.75 million contract is modest and still has two more seasons on it after this one. His contract is an easy one for the Toronto Maple Leafs to accommodate.
On the Toronto Maple Leafs, Peeke would likely fit in on the bottom pairing for now, but I could see him growing into a bigger role in the future. He's another right-shot defenseman and the Maple Leafs never have enough of those.
With the abysmal season the Columbus Blue Jackets have had, some changes need to be made and with the gallery of defenseman on the their roster, Andrew Peeke is likely to be involved in those changes. The Toronto Maple Leafs should sweep in on a cheap deal while the getting's good.
3. Scott Laughton - A solid centre for the Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are looking a little shaky down the middle to say to least and Scott Laughton could be the plug for that hole.
Max Domi may have excelled offensively in a new role as a Toronto Maple Leafs centreman, but his defensive reliability is questionable. With John Tavares dropping down to a decreased third-line role, maybe the time has finally come to move him to the wing. In any case, the Toronto Maple Leafs are lacking depth at centre.
Scott Laughton would be a perfect fit with the Maple Leafs, and the Oakville, Ontario native is sure to become a fan favourite with his physical two-way style. Laughton is definitely a playoff-style player and with two years left on his $3 million deal after this season, the 29 year-old could prove to be a steal.
He's currently playing of the top line with the Philadelphia Flyers, and he'd likely be a 2C or maybe 3C for the Toronto Maple Leafs. It would be great to see what he can do playing with elevated talent like William Nylander, Tyler Bertuzzi and/or John Tavares.
The Philadelphia Flyers are currently hanging on to the final playoff spot in the Metropolitan Division, though they have fewer points than the two current Eastern Conference wild card teams, but rumour has it, they'll still be sellers at the deadline. There are lots of trade rumours around the team involving Sean Walker, Nick Seeler and Scott Laughton.
I'm not sure what the Toronto Maple Leafs would have to give up to land Scott Laughton, but the price might be too hefty for the Maple Leafs to bite. However, if the Maple Leafs feel that this is the year, they should do whatever it takes.
2. Juuse Saros - Time for the Toronto Maple Leafs to solidify their net
General Manager, Brad Treliving, came to the Toronto Maple Leafs with a reputation for building teams from the net out. Because of that reputation, I wouldn't be surprised if he made a bold move to place an established presence in net.
Ilya Samsonov has been everything but stable in the Maple Leafs net this season. He has been better since his AHL stint, but he hasn't exactly been stealing games. Joseph Woll has become the better goaltender for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but he's still relatively inexperienced and may not be ready for what's hopefully a deep playoff run, especially coming off an injury.
He may be posting some of the worst numbers of his career, but Juuse Saros was a Vezina Trophy finalist in 2022. Even in an off year, Saros is one of the best goalies in the NHL. It isn't often that a goaltender of his caliber becomes available, and if he is available, the Toronto Maple Leafs should pounce on him while they have the chance.
The Nashville Predators have been on a winning streak and have recently moved into a wild card spot. This could have an impact on the trade rumours around Juuse Saros.
If the Toronto Maple Leafs are able to make a move for Saros, they're really going to have to break the bank in terms of assets going the other way and accommodating his $5 million contract for this season and the next.
1. Jacob Markstrom - The biggest impact on the Toronto Maple Leafs
The biggest move that Brad Treliving could make with the players rumoured to be available would be to reunite with his former Calgary Flames goaltender, Jacob Markstrom.
Markstrom could be the biggest player to move during the NHL Trade Deadline. He's having a terrific season despite playing on a non-playoff team, and he was runner-up for the Vezina Trophy in 2022.
He would make a huge impact on the Toronto Maple Leafs for all the same reasons I mentioned for Juuse Saros, but more so. He is a bonafide number one goaltending talent.
The Calgary Flames are out of the playoffs and selling major assets fast. Markstrom does have a full no-trade clause, but with his recent comments about how upper management has handled trade rumours this season, it sounds like he's had enough and would welcome a change.
Obtaining Markstrom would have its challenges though. His $6 million cap hit for two more seasons after this one would be difficult for the Toronto Maple Leafs to leverage, and the amount of assets the Maple Leafs would have to exchange for Jacob Markstrom would be extravagant. There are also a number of rumours suggesting that Markstrom is destined to join the New Jersey Devils.
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Perhaps Brad Treliving will pull a rabbit out of his hat, and we'll have a big surprise waiting for us during this NHL Trade Deadline. I can't wait to see what moves he has instore for the Toronto Maple Leafs.