The Toronto Maple Leafs search for a center is one of the worst-kept secrets in the NHL. Almost from the beginning of the season, it’s been rumoured that the Leafs are searching for someone to play behind Auston Matthews.
While John Tavares’ resurgent season has partially quelled those cries for help, Matthews’ recent injury woes have not helped the Leafs depth. The club has managed to weather the storm thus far, but their lack of depth at centre is pathetic.
Over the last few weeks, the Toronto Maple Leafs have been linked to guys like the New York Islanders’ Brock Nelson or the Calgary Flames’ Nazen Kadri. But listening to Elliotte Friedman during last Saturday night’s Headlines made me wonder: The Leafs could target the New York Rangers.
Now, the Leafs dealing with the Rangers is nothing new. Jacob Trouba’s name was briefly thrown around was has Chris Kreider’s. Trouba is a defenceman and Kreider is a winger. The Leafs don’t really need either.
So, why not target a center? That’s when Friedman’s comments set off a lightbulb. “Everyone is watching the Rangers,” he said. And, certainly talented but underperforming players could be headed out the door soon.
Trouba was the first shoe to drop. Kaapo Kakko was next. But there’s one guy the Rangers would most likely love to move and his cap hit: Mike Zibanejad.
Zibanejad has been largely absent this season. He’s not performed up to the first-line center status he once held. But now that he’s dropping fast down the Rangers’ depth chart, why not bring him on as a middle-six guy?
That’s an intriguing thought to ponder.
Where Zibanejad fits into the Toronto Maple Leafs lineup
Before delving into this question, there is a caveat to bringing Zibanejad, and it’s not his $8.5 million cap hit. It’s the fact that the pressure and the spotlight of playing for the Rangers seems to have gotten to him.
New York is arguably the next-toughest market to play in after Toronto. Sure, Montreal and Vancouver can be tough, but New York can be brutal. So, if Zibanejad is struggling to cope with the pressure in New York, Toronto would be the last place to go.
Then again, Zibanejand wouldn’t be expected to become the saviour in Toronto. The Leafs could put Zibanejad on the third line, hoping he could work his way up the depth chart. If the Leafs play without Matthews, Zibanejad could slide in alongside fellow Swede William Nylander.
If Matthews is on the ice, Tavares plays on the second line with Zibanejad on a third-line role with Bobby McMann and Nick Robertson. Either way, Zibanejad is not the guy. If Matthews plays, it’s Matthews. If Matthews is out, Mitch Marner’s the guy.
There’s one other interesting consideration: The Rangers dumped Trouba for a bag of pucks and some goalie pads. So, who’s to say the Rangers wouldn’t be willing to accept a similar trade for Zibanejad?
Yes, there’s also the cap hit to worry about. But… if Matthews goes on LTIR, the cap hit wouldn’t be an issue.
That, however, is a story for another day.