Toronto Maple Leafs Trade Targets from the Metro Division
This is part two of my four-part series on Toronto Maple Leafs trade targets around the NHL.
The Toronto Maple Leafs need to try and upgrade their roster before the NHL trade deadline. They have a few weaknesses that need fixing, but does Leafs general manager Brad Treliving have enough assets to make the necessary upgrades?
I think he does, but should he spend them on a rental or try to get a player with more term? I, for one, would rather see the Leafs spend a 1st round pick or a top prospect on a player with term.
As the NHL trade deadline approaches, the Leafs will have their name linked to every player available. Treliving's top priority should be to upgrade the Leafs defense.
That is the area where the Leafs need help the most. However, I wouldn't rule out the Leafs adding a depth forward or even a goaltender. It all depends on how confident Treliving is with this Leafs team as they play through February.
Toronto's top assets for trades at this year's deadline are Matthew Knies, Timothy Liljegren, Fraser Minten, Easton Cowan, Ryan Tverberg and their 2024 first-round pick. I find it hard to imagine Treliving trading Knies or Liljegren, but they are players other teams inquire about. This is Treliving's first NHL trade deadline with the Leafs, so it's hard to gauge what he'll do.
This article will focus on teams considered to be sellers or potential sellers in the Metropolitan Division. Let's take a look at possible trade targets for the Leafs.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Andrew Peeke
My top choice for players to try and acquire from the Columbus Blue Jackets is Andrew Peeke. Peeke is a 6'3", 210 Lbs right-shooting defenseman who will be 26 years old in March. He missed some time with injury but has six assists in 20 games. Peeke is averaging 15:40 minutes of ice time and has registered 35 hits and 40 blocked shots. He plays the way Treliving likes his players to play.
(All stats from hockey-reference.com)
Another thing that appeals to me about Peeke is that he is under contract for two more seasons beyond this season, and his salary cap hit is only $2.75 million. It would be nice to see him patrolling the Leafs blueline for the next few seasons. (All salary cap info from capfriendly.com)
Erik Gudbranson
Erik Gudbranson is a 6'5", 222 Lbs, 32-year-old right-shooting defenseman. He has three goals and 11 assists for 14 points in 46 games. Gudbranson is averaging 19:28 minutes of ice time and has registered 40 hits and 112 blocked shots. He is a shot-blocking machine and could help keep more pucks away from the Leafs goaltenders.
Gudbranson, like Peeke, is under contract for two more seasons beyond this season. However, his salary cap hit is higher at $4 million. It will be harder for Treliving to add Gudbranson, but not impossible.
Elvis Merzlikins
Two Leafs goaltenders, Ilya Samsonov and Martin Jones, will become UFAs this summer. So, if Treliving wants to add a goaltender with term, Elvis Merzlikins could be the guy. Merzlikins is under contract until the end of the 2026-27 season with a salary cap hit of $5.4 million.
His record this season is 9-10-7 with a 3.22 GAA and a .903 SV%. Both his GAA and SV% are around his career average, so I would expect much better from him on the Leafs, but if the Leafs improve their defense, that will help.
Washington Capitals
Anthony Mantha
Anthony Mantha is a 6'5", 234 Lbs, 29-year-old right-winger. He has 15 goals and eight assists for 23 points in 43 games. Mantha is averaging 13:55 minutes of ice time. He is on pace to record more than 30 points for the first time since the 2019-20 season.
Mantha would be an expensive rental at $5.7 million unless the Leafs can put together a good enough trade package to persuade the Capitals to retain some salary. However, I don't think the overall asking price will be high for Mantha to begin with.
Charlie Lindgren
Charlie Lindgren is a 30-year-old goaltender. He has a 9-6-4 record with two shutouts, a 2.59 GAA, and a .916 SV%. With the Leafs having two goaltenders becoming UFAs this summer, the fact that Lindgren is signed for one more year after this season is a bonus.
Lindgren has a salary cap hit of $1.1 million, which would be easy for the Leafs to fit under their cap for this season and next. Lindgren has played a few more games than Martin Jones and has slightly better stats. The fact that he is signed next season and Jones is not, makes Lindgren more appealing.
New Jersey Devils
Colin Miller
Colin Miller is a 31-year-old, 6'1", 200 Lbs right-shooting defenseman. He has two goals and three assists for five points in 27 games. Miller is averaging 15:40 minutes of ice time this season and has a Corsi for percentage of 56.4%. He also has 42 hits and 19 blocked shots.
Miller would be acquired as a rental since he will become a UFA this summer. His salary cap hit is $1.85 million, so he would be one of the easier contracts to fit into the Leafs salary cap.
Tyler Toffoli
Tyler Toffoli is a 31-year-old, 6'0", 203 Lbs winger. He can play on either the wing and performs well in the playoffs.
The Leafs are often linked to Toffoli, and he has a history with Leafs GM Brad Treliving. He has 21 goals and 13 assists for 34 points in 47 games. Toffoli is averaging 17:17 minutes of ice time this season and has a Corsi for percentage of 56.6%, along with 30 hits and six blocked shots.
Toffoli will become a UFA this summer, and with a salary cap hit of $4.25 million, he would be an expensive rental for the Leafs to add. However, he would be a good secondary-scoring addition to add to the Leafs top-six.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Reilly Smith
Reilly Smith is a 32-year-old, 6'1", 185 Lbs right-winger. He has eight goals and 12 assists for 20 points in 40 games. Smith is averaging 16:14 minutes of ice time this season and has a Corsi for percentage of 52.0%, along with 21 hits and ten blocked shots. He has also registered 26 goals and 53 assists for 79 playoff points in 106 playoff games and helped the Vegas Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup last season.
Smith has one more season after this one left on his contract with a salary cap hit of $5 million. It's a steep price for a player who might finish the season with 40 points. However, I think the Leafs would be adding him strictly for his playoff experience. Treliving could try to get the Penguins to retain some salary as well.
Alex Nedeljkovic
Alex Nedeljkovic is a 28-year-old goaltender with a record of 8-3-3 and one shutout. He has a 2.60 GAA and a .918 SV% through 16 games this season. This is his seventh NHL season, and he has a career record of 50-41-18 in 119 games with the Carolina Hurricanes, Detroit Red Wings, and Pittsburgh Penguins.
Nedeljkovic will become a UFA this summer, so if the Leafs acquire him, it will be as a rental. However, it wouldn't be too difficult to add his $1.5 million salary under the Leafs cap.
Marcus Pettersson
Marcus Pettersson is a 27-year-old, 6'3", 177 Lbs left-shooting defenseman. He has two goals and 17 assists for 19 points in 46 games while averaging 22:37 minutes of ice time. He has a Corsi for percentage of 52.2%, 50 hits, and 81 blocked shots.
Pettersson is signed until the end of next season with a salary cap hit of $4.025 million. The Leafs would need to move some salary or ask the Penguins to retain salary for this trade to happen.
New York Islanders
Kyle Palmieri
Kyle Palmieri is the only player I could see the Leafs targeting from the Islanders. I doubt the Islanders will move him, but if they are willing to trade him, Palmieri would be a good depth player for the Leafs.
He has 13 goals and 15 assists for 28 points in 49 games this season. Palmieri is averaging 16:58 minutes of ice time with a Corsi For percentage of 49.4%, along with 39 hits and 27 blocked shots.
The 33-year-old Palmieri has 63 games of NHL playoff experience. He has registered 17 goals and 12 assists for 29 playoff points. Adding Palmieri as depth and added leadership would not only be for this season. He has another season after this one with a $5 million salary cap hit. The Leafs will need to move another player out if they hope to add Palmieri at full cost.
The only other player I could see the Leafs wanting from the Islanders would be Matt Martin, but he is not an upgrade over any of the players we have now.
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He plays the same role as Ryan Reaves, and the Leafs will find it hard to move Reaves, but most of his cap hit can come off the books if he's sent to the Marlies.