Exploring Where Patrik Laine Could Fit into the Toronto Maple Leafs Lineup

Patrik Laine's highly publicised trade request opens up a unique opportunity for the Toronto Maple Leafs to add an elite-level player at a discount price. However, the big question remains: Where does Laine fit into the Maple Leafs lineup? Exploring the answer to that question reveals some tantalising possibilities.

Patrik Laine would easily slot into the Toronto Maple Leafs top six. But the question remains where precisely Laine could land. / Kirk Irwin/GettyImages

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The Toronto Maple Leafs should, at the very least, kick the tires on disgruntled Columbus Blue Jackets star forward Patrik Laine.

It’s not every day that players with elite-level skills become available, especially at a bargain-discount price. And that being the case, the Toronto Maple Leafs should be extremely interested in his services.

I’ve written about Laine and the Leafs before. I have always believed that Laine could be a good fit in Toronto under the right circumstances.

As my colleague James Tanner discussed in this piece, the Leafs have the assets and the pieces to make a deal work.

Nevertheless, Tanner points out that it may take a first-round pick to get the deal done. I don’t think it would even take that much to get Laine on board in Toronto. In my estimation, a middle-round pick and Nick Robertson could move the needle for Columbus.

If the Leafs have to pay more, it would likely only be to retain his salary, as they may have a bit of troublie fitting the full amount of his nearly $9 million cap-hit into their plans.

Now, assuming the deal gets done, the bit question remains: Where does Patrik Laine fit into the Toronto Maple Leafs lineup?

Let’s explore that question in further detail.

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