The Big List of Toronto Maple Leafs Trade Deadline Options
By James Tanner
Cam Atkinson
Only putting him here because his name always comes up, but the Toronto Maple Leafs should have no interest.
Scott Laughton
Again, another player that always gets brought up. But he sucks. He's bad defensively. He has no offense. He makes $3 million and there isn't a Leafs player other than Ryan Reaves you'd take out of the lineup to play him. Just a terrible, dare I say lazy, idea.
Sean Walker
A pending UFA who makes $2.9 million and is right handed. Almost all his positive impact comes from offense, and he is the perfect addition to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
This is a huge value-add and Brad Treliving should be ignoring the Flames and focusing on Walker.
Marc Staal
I wouldn't add this guy to any team, because not only is he bad at hockey (comparatively compared to other NHL players, obviously) but trading for dirtbags goes against my personal beliefs.
Even if he was good, which he isn't, I find him so repulsive and repellant I couldn't stomach him on the Leafs.
Rasmus Ristolainen
I shouldn't have to say this, but no.
Evgeni Malkin
Assuming Pittsburgh becomes sellers, they have several interesting players. Malkin is 37 but still quite good. He would give the Leafs another superstar centre (he's better than Tavares is, and Tavares is still pretty good). Only problem is he has a full no-movement clause and makes $6.1 for two years after this. If he was 50% retained and waived his clause, it's hard to imagine a better pickup.
Now prevailing wisdom says he doesn't want to leave Pittsburgh, but you never know if you don't ask!
Lars Eller
This is a name I keep reading, and I really hope the Leafs wouldn't bother. This is the kind of name-brand player teams love because of experience and intangibles, but who really just blocks a younger player. Lars Eller is good defensively and has no offensive game to speak of. The Leafs already have David Kampf so I have less than zero interest in adding any more one-dimensional players to the team.