Forwards the Toronto Maple Leafs could be interested in signing or trading for

Trade Targets

As I said before, the free agent market leaves much to be desired and the options mainly consist of bargain bin finds and over the hill players. The trade market seems like the most likely spot that the Leafs will fill the hole up front but at this stage of the summer, many of the major pieces on the market have already moved. Regardless, there are a few intriguing options that could still be available.

Nikolaj Ehlers

By far the biggest name throughout the whole article, Nikolaj Ehlers, he has been in rumors all summer and would be an amazing get for the Leafs.

He is arguably one of the NHL’s most under-appreciated forwards who consistently drives offence at an elite level and scores at a 60-point pace or better. He is currently entering the final year of a seven-year deal that pays him $6 million per year.

This is obviously an unlikely acquisition for the Leafs given their cap situation, meaning they would have to find a way to clear nearly $5 million. This could be done by trading David Kampf, Calle Jarnkrok, and Ryan Reaves but I’m not sure that the Leafs have the assets to make this deal worthwhile for the Jets. It would be a major move for the team if they could pull it off, though. (All Contract and salary cap information via PuckPedia.com and All Statistics via hockey-reference.com).

Kaapo Kakko

If the Leafs are looking for a cheap forward to potentially make a big impact, Kaapo Kakko seems like a very wise bet to make. Since being taken second overall in 2019, he has struggled to find his groove with the New York Rangers, typically playing in a middle-six role with limited special teams usage.

On the Leafs, he could be given a fresh start with the chance to play top-six minutes and consistent time on both special teams. So far, he has proven to have fairly solid defensive metrics but his offence hasn’t quite been up to par with a career high of 40 points in 2022-23.

The asking price could be high for a former second overall pick and given his struggles to live up to expectations, the Leafs should be cautious giving up too much. Of course, there is always internal options in prospects like Easton Cowan or Nikita Grebyonkin but as of right now, we have no indication whether they are ready to make the jump or not.