The Toronto Maple Leafs should trade for Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand.
Yes, that’s right. Marchand is caught between a rock and a hard place in Boston this season. The Bruins are in the midst of one of the team’s worst seasons in recent history and he’s set to become a UFA this summer. The Toronto Maple Leafs should be very interested in bringing him aboard.
Marchand is struggling, the team is inconsistent at best, and they just got their Jack Adams-winning coach fired. While we could get into the reasons why Boston isn’t doing too well this season, the key point is that Marchand could become available, insider Chris Johnston believes. In his NHL trade board, Johnston lists Marchand as one of the top 25 players likely to get traded this season.
Now, let’s take this thought with a grain of salt. It’s not guaranteed that the Bruins will trade Marchand. In fact, the likelihood of moving Marchand depends on one crucial factor. If the Bruins fade from the playoff race, the club might be enticed to move Marchand, even ahead of the trade deadline.
The Toronto Maple Leafs should trade for their arch nemesis
So, if Marchand does become available, the Toronto Maple Leafs must consider trading for their archnemesis. The Bruins are already reportedly taking calls on Nikita Zadorov, per Elliotte Friedman. Moreover, the Bruins could move other pieces like Trent Frederic, as Johnston points out.
The Leafs have the clearest path out of the Atlantic Division in the Auston Matthews era. Adding Marchand could be one of the pieces to get the Leafs over the top as they would most likely run into the Florida Panthers in the second round of the playoffs.
It’s tricky to find a spot for Marchand. He’s a borderline top-six forward at 36. His production is down, and his overall compete level has declined. Perhaps playing for a tough-love coach like Craig Berube and seeing a path to another Cup could reinvigorate Marchand’s play.
If that’s the case, my thought is that Marchand could form a Geriatric Line with John Tavares and Max Pacioretty. Such a line brings a wealth of experience and talent to the middle six (full disclosure, I’m older than all three players).
Some fans might think, why target an older player instead of someone younger like Frederic? That’s a good point. But if there’s anyone that can really get under the Panthers’ skin, or any other team for that matter, it’s Marchand.
Ultimately, the Toronto Maple Leafs cannot pass up the opportunity to target a player like Marchand. For the right price, he could be a great depth addition for the playoffs. My warning would be to avoid Kyle Dubas’ mistake with Nick Foligno: Do not give up a first-round pick on an aging player who’s on an expiring contract.
Wouldn’t it be wild to see Marchand in a Leafs sweater after all these years? Fate has a cruel way of making things work out in the end.