5 Off-Season Trade Targets that Actually Make Sense for the Toronto Maple Leafs

Apr 25, 2024; Elmont, New York, USA; New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (30) make a save against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period in game three of the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports / Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports

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Zach Werenski

He's 26 and makes almost $10 million per year.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are getting a new GM and might want out of this deal. It's not exactly a great deal, but if you think a 26 year old whose always played on one of the worst teams might be better in a different context, this is the player to target.

Werenski is a huge risk.

Injuries, a bad, long contract, and who knows what you're going to get.

BUT

You'd be trading for a distressed asset, which means you might get him cheap, or maybe even with some salary retention. The Blue Jackets are a long, long way from being a contender and would love out of this deal, one assumes.

The Leafs aren't going to find an Alex Pietrangelo or Zdeno Chara in this year's free-agent crop. No one is trading them a Mikko Heiskanen for Mitch Marner.

So if they want a number-one D-man, they've got to look under some rocks.

Werenski might be next to free if you took on his full contract. Considering the Leafs sat $11 million on the bench in game six vs Boston, cap space might not be such a problem for them anymore.

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