3 under-the-radar trades that will shake up the Maple Leafs at the deadline
Blockbuster trades are ideal for many reasons, but let’s not count out potential under-the-radar moves that could shake up the Maple Leafs.
The Maple Leafs don’t have a ton of room to make a huge trade, and while such a transaction isn’t out of the question, they may instead roll with a more under-the-radar move that few would be talking about. It would be outstanding to see them land a big name like Chris Tanev or perhaps even someone like Jakob Chychrun, but it’s also smart to think outside the box before committing to such high-profile talents.
The names listed below aren’t those you may immediately think about when it comes to Toronto making a big trade at or before the deadline. However, acquiring just one of them would provide incredible value for Toronto, perhaps even longer than the 2023-24 season.
Just because there are three players listed, it doesn’t mean Toronto would make all three trades happen. For one, it would be more than a challenge, and for another, just one of these under-the-radar names - one defenseman, one goaltender, and one forward - could bring significant value on their own.
Joel Edmundson is a blueliner who could take up a spot on the third pairing
One more experienced, physical presence would be outstanding for the Maple Leafs, and luckily for them, Joel Edmundson would be more than affordable to bring in given his manageable cap hit. Toronto doesn’t have a ton of assets to put forth in a trade, but to acquire a defenseman like Edmundson would be huge for this hockey team, given their current issues on the blue line.
Edmundson isn’t a top name, nor would he be a miracle worker, but he will disrupt plays, and that’s something Toronto needs more of at the moment. His on-ice presence has also helped the Washington Capitals attain a 91.2 save percentage when he’s out there at 5-on-5, plus a solid 90.9 at even strength.
No, trading for Edmundson wouldn’t be an exciting move by any means, but he’s an affordable asset that Toronto would have little trouble landing.
Jake Allen would fare way better for a good hockey team
The Maple Leafs may have strung together more than a few wins in a row through February 20th, but let’s not fool ourselves: They cannot expect to make a deep playoff run with Ilya Samsonov and Martin Jones in the net. While the former has a solid 12-4-6 record, his 0.882 save percentage and 3.19 GAA are among the worst in the league for goaltenders who have started at least 20 games.
Martin Jones could be a capable backup, and the jury remains out on what Joseph Woll will look like when he ultimately returns. Woll looked good in 13 starts, but they may want to opt for an insurance policy, and Jake Allen brings both experience and success to the table.
No, his numbers haven’t been good in three seasons, but he’s also playing for a bad hockey team looking to shed more than a few seasoned veterans. Allen would be up for grabs even if his price tag is less-than-ideal, given the current situation in Montreal, and a goaltender-needy team like the Maple Leafs should be there for the taking.
Should Toronto opt for another goaltender at the deadline to act as much-needed insurance for Samsonov and Woll, Allen would be the guy, assuming the Canadiens have enough room to retain a portion of one more salary on their payroll.
Anthony Duclair would rediscover his scoring potential in Toronto
One major advantage of acquiring Anthony Duclair is that the San Jose Sharks would likely retain a portion of his salary, making life easier for Toronto should they opt to add one more forward to their lineup. The 2023-24 season has predictably not been kind to Duclair as he’s taking up space on what is a lowly Sharks team looking to move their seasoned veterans.
Amidst the chaos, he still has 11 goals in 50 games for one of the NHL’s worst teams, along with a solid 13.8 shooting percentage. These factors alone could entice one of the NHL’s most all-out offensive-minded teams to add another piece and continue to dare opponents to outscore them. Duclair, who scored an outstanding 31 goals in 2021-22, would give that edge to Toronto.
Duclair is also an under-the-radar forward who can simultaneously carry a defensive mindset, evidenced by his 23 takeaways and ability to help the Sharks attain a surprisingly decent on-ice save percentage of 90.7 at even strength and 91.6 at 5-on-5 if he’s in the game.
While Duclair is a forward who will add yet another potential scoring asset to Toronto, he still holds a lot of value on defense. There would be a lot for fans to like if the Maple Leafs brought in one of the NHL’s more successful journeymen.
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(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference as of February 20th)