There hasn’t been a lot of excitement around Trade Deadline Day in recent years. Even the hype has been missing this year. The Ottawa Senators have done their part to reignite the excitement of years past by putting Erik Karlsson on the block and trading Derick Brassard in a crazy three-team deal. The Toronto Maple Leafs trade deadline moves could help spice up the normally ant-climatic day. Here’s a look at which Leafs could be on the move.i
Leafs Trade Deadline Preview
Which Players Could The Toronto Maple Leafs Trade
Gone For Sure
Nothing is really for sure. There are some players the Leafs could trade that would be addition by subtraction. Players that still have value, but no place with the Leafs.
Matt Martin
Martin is at the top of this list. It’s clear the Leafs have no room for the rugged winger. He’s been a healthy scratch since January. The NHL is trending away from tough guys and fighting, but Martin brings other skills to the table that teams still value. The most likely team Martin could be traded to is his old team, the New York Islanders. There may be a desire to reunite the ‘best fourth line in hockey‘. Don’t expect the Leafs to get a very significant return for Martin. With two years left after this season at $2.5 million a season, the Leafs may need to retain salary.
Roman Polak or Connor Carrick
Polak gets an inordinate amount of ice time. He hasn’t finished a season with a positive relative Corsi since his rookie season in 2007-2008. He’s a -2.8 this season so far. Which is actually good for him. Trading Polak would do little more than free up some cap space and a roster position. He’s a pending UFA after signing a one-year deal for $1.1 million.
The Leafs would prefer to keep Carrick. He’s got a positive relative Corsi at 1.5. He’s only 23-years-old and a pending RFA that isn’t likely to cost much to resign. Carrick is on this list because if the Leafs can’t move Polak, or insist on keeping him, and intend to bring in another defenseman, something will have to give. There is no roster limit after the trade deadline, but keeping young players in the press box generally isn’t ideal. The Leafs have done it with Josh Leivo for most of the season, but that’s becoming a sore point for many. Since Carrick can’t be sent to the Marlies, trading him now for something of value, a mid-round pick perhaps, could be on the Leafs to-do list.
The UFAs
The Leafs have three UFAs that could be moved. All three could help them in the playoffs as well though so there’s no guarantee they’ll be moved. It depends on what Lou Lamoriello values more, a better chance to win this year, or the overall strengthening of the team for years to come. Losing these players for nothing in free agency doesn’t help the team. Trading them now would at least give the Leafs some return. Considering what teams have given up so far, that return could be really good.
Leo Komarov
Komarov has shown he can be a valuable player in his time with the Leafs. However this year, his value has been sorely lacking. He has a relative Corsi of -6.3 this year. That’s worst on the team of regular players. The Leafs are not likely to resign him in the offseason. He can be offered up as a feisty forward to a team looking for a little more grit.
Tyler Bozak
The Leafs don’t have a lot of depth up the middle. If they trade Bozak, they would need to fill his spot with someone else. There are not many options within the organization right now. If the Leafs are able to trade for a young centre whom they’re able to keep beyond this season, Bozak could be moved. If the Leafs aren’t able to pick up another centre, Bozak will be staying put. Even if the Leafs do add someone, they could still keep Bozak for depth. William Nylander is probably not ready for a full-time centre role yet. Patrick Marleau, who has filled in a centre this season, is better suited for the wing. After Nylander and Marleau, the next options are to use Dominic Moore on the third line or call up Frederik Gauthier. Neither of those two options is appealing.
James van Riemsdyk
Van Riemsdyk is a 30 goal scorer. It sounds ridiculous that the Leafs would trade him with a sure ticket to the postseason already stamped. They can consider it for two reasons. The return could be huge. They’re probably not going to be able to resign him so that return is a very tempting carrot. They could get a first-round pick and a good prospect for van Riemsdyk. That’s not something that the Leafs should disregard.
The other argument for trading him is there are players already with the organization that can replace him. The Leafs may not be deep at centre, but they are very deep on the wings. Kasperi Kapanen, who is no stranger to playoff heroics, is ready to take the next step with the Leafs. Andreas Johnsson hasn’t played a game in the NHL yet, but he’s a point a game player in the AHL this season. No matter what happens at the trade deadline, expect to see Johnsson in a Leafs uniform by the end of the season. Even if it’s only for some experience.
Long Shots to Move
Calvin Pickard or Garret Sparks
Pickard and Sparks are arguably the best goalie tandem in the AHL. Both are young at 25 and 24 respectively. The Leafs are well equipped in the crease. Frederik Andersen is having a career year. Curtis McElhinney has been solid in a backup role. Teams can never have enough goaltending in the organization, but if the Leafs can move one of these guys for a big return, they should. The Pittsburgh Penguins will need someone when they have their yearly first round goalie injury.
The Twilight Zone
Josh Leivo
The Leafs signed Leivo to an extension in the offseason and then made him a healthy scratch for 51 games. There are two schools of thought on Leivo. One thought is that Mike Babcock just isn’t a fan of Leivo. The other is that they like him, but with the depth the Leafs have, there’s no place to play him. If the former is true, expect him to be traded in the next couple days. If they do value Leivo, the expectation is that he would earn a spot next year when the Leafs lose their three UFAs to free agency. With Auston Matthews injured, Leivo will have a chance to play himself into the lineup this season. Trade or no trade, the Leivo saga is one to keep tabs on.
Standing Pat
They promised pain, but nothing has been really painful yet. Even the last place finish two years ago wasn’t painful. They could clear out their UFAs. That would give the impression they’re giving up on the season. That would be the pain.
They’re sixth overall and the fan base is hungry for a playoff run. Trading away core players, even though they are UFAs, and playoff depth would rub many the wrong way. There’s a good chance they’ll keep everyone and add a couple small pieces for the playoffs. That path is not the best path for sustained contention, but it’s hard to sacrifice the present for the future.
