{"id":456663,"date":"2024-11-21T15:07:47","date_gmt":"2024-11-21T20:07:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=456663"},"modified":"2024-11-21T15:07:47","modified_gmt":"2024-11-21T20:07:47","slug":"nhl-rumours-centres-the-toronto-maple-leafs-could-realistically-trade-for","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2024\/11\/21\/nhl-rumours-centres-the-toronto-maple-leafs-could-realistically-trade-for\/","title":{"rendered":"NHL Rumours: Centres The Toronto Maple Leafs Could Realistically Trade For"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to another edition of NHL Rumours<\/a>. The Toronto Maple Leafs<\/a> have been battling with several injuries. At the moment, the Leafs officially have six forwards out of the lineup<\/a>. Five are unavailable due to injury and one (Ryan Reaves<\/a>) is suspended<\/a>. Additionally, depending on the results of the evaluation of Matthew Knies<\/a>, they may have another on their hands. Knies<\/a> was on the receiving end of a hard hit by Vegas Golden Knights<\/a> D-man Zach Whitecloud<\/a>. After leaving for the dressing room, he did not return to the game<\/a>. However, aside from Knies, Toronto is without four players who can play centre. Therefore, they might have to resort to a trade to help them.<\/p>\n

Toronto’s Centre Depth<\/h2>\n

Even before all these injuries transpired, there were already talks of the Leafs looking for a centreman<\/a>. When the Leafs are perfectly healthy, there’s a third-line centre role that’s available. There’s no denying that the Leafs have a number of forwards who could fill in and get the job done on a short-term basis. However, it may be in the team’s best interest to trade for a centre. Lately, Pontus Holmberg<\/a> or Max Domi<\/a> have played that role. However, the third line hasn’t been effective with either of them in the middle.<\/p>\n

Head coach Craig Berube<\/a> ideally would like John Tavares<\/a> to act as the third-line middle-man. He tried to make William Nylander<\/a> a centre on the second line, but that project didn’t last. There have also been conversations of having Mitch Marner<\/a> play centre<\/a>, but nothing official. Although it hasn\u2019t panned out the way Berube may have wanted, it’s not the end of the world. This is because Tavares has upped his game from last season proving he can still play on the second line. The former captain is averaging a point per game in 19 appearances. He also has nine goals, second on the team behind Nylander’s 13. Impressive numbers for the 34-year-old.<\/p>\n

Who’s on Toronto’s Radar?<\/h3>\n

Lucky for the Leafs, there are plenty of options in the trade market for middle-six forwards. Toronto would specifically be interested in a centre but won’t complain if they can play the wing on the second line. James Mirtle of The Athletic and Sportnets’ Luke Fox have provided their inputs and a list of names they believe Toronto should look at. Those names include:<\/p>\n