Third-Line Center Trade Options for Toronto Maple Leafs

Jake Evans - Montreal Canadiens

Jake Evans may be the best and easiest option to acquire for the Maple Leafs as the 28-year old is entering the final year of his three year contract that carries a cap hit of $1.7M.

The Montreal Canadiens forward played a career high 16:01 last season (ref: hockey-reference.com) and is an effective penalty killer playing more than three minutes a night shorthanded.

With unrestricted free agency looming and the Canadiens unlikely to compete for a playoff spot he could be the cheapest option.

Brock Nelson - New York Islanders

The player that carries one of the higher cap hits as potential centers is New York Islander Brock Nelson who has one-year left on a $6M per season contract.

Nelson is worth the money and has collected 107 goals over his last three season and averages more than 18-minutes a night. Like Jenner, Nelson could potentially help the team with having three scoring lines.

Claude Giroux - Ottawa Senators

Two summers ago, veteran Claude Giroux made a peculiar decision to sign with the rebuilding Ottawa Senators in hopes of helping them climb into a playoff hunt.

Unfortunately, now entering the final year of his contract the Senators have never been close and with things not looking like much has changed, Giroux may be looking at a last chance at going after a Stanley Cup.

Despite being 36 last season, the former first round pick averaged more than 20-minutes a night and collected 64-points. He has turned into a penalty kill specialist averaging two minutes a game.