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A fan’s guide to the Trade Deadline - Part I; Leafs vs. Red Wings |
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The Toronto Maple Leafs hope to bounce back from a disappointing defensive effort in a 5-3 loss to Pittsburgh on Saturday against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena on Sunday.
Olli Maatta’s point shot past Frederik Andersen midway through the third period provided the winning margin for the Stanley Cup Champions, who won their 11th straight home games and ended Toronto’s five game winning streak.
The Leafs blueline had a rough night against the Pens, as goals by Carl Hagelin and Zach Aston-Reese resulted from missed assignments in their own zone and Evgeni Malkin’s first period goal was a direct result of a Jake Gardiner pass up the middle.
“(Pittsburgh’s defense) were up tight on our guys, so whether it's going off the glass or up the middle, we try to back them off as much as we can.” Gardiner said after the game. “Some of those just didn't work out.”
Backup Curtis McElhinney will start for the Leafs in Detroit, as has been the case in all but one of the second of back-to-back games this season. The club did not take to the ice Sunday morning, so any potential lineup changes will not become apparent until just before game time.
Zach Hyman took a rough tumble into the end boards in the third period on Saturday after being tripped by Maatta, but got up under his own power to head to the Toronto dressing room and returned to the ice moments later.
If Hyman is unable to go on Sunday, either Matt Martin or Josh Leivo would take his place in the lineup.
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With the trade of winger Nikita Soshnikov last week, the Maple Leafs made the first of what could be many potential moves before the NHL Trade Deadline eight days from now.
The club has the flexibility to add a player after the Soshnikov deal (since the trade opened up a spot under the limit of 50 professional contracts) and potentially could be buyers if a top four blueliner or a center are available for what GM Lou Lamoriello deems to be a reasonable price, but there continues to be the possibility that they will deal center Tyler Bozak or winger James van Riemsdyk before February 26th if the return is too good to refuse.
Taking into account the latest rumors and comparable asking prices on the trade market for similar players, here is a guide for what Toronto would potentially have to give up or could get in return in trades leading up to the deadline.
Selling deals
Van Riemsdyk - The Leafs would likely get more than the reported asking price for rental wingers Evander Kane and Rick Nash. With factors such as van Riemsdyk’s economical $4.25 Million salary compared to Kane ($5.25 Million) or Nash ($7.8 Million), the Leafs winger having more goals (23), as well as Kane’s reputation of being a problem in the locker room and Nash’s history of not coming up big in the postseason, it is reasonable that Lamoriello could ask for more for him and get it from a team desperate for scoring help (Carolina and New Jersey) or looking for that last piece to help them win the Stanley Cup (Nashville and St. Louis).
Potential return - A lottery-protected first round pick, a top prospect and a conditional draft pick in case the team signs him before July.
Bozak - The center market this deadline is especially thin, with Edmonton’s Mark Letestu, Montreal’s Tomas Plekanec and Ottawa’s Derick Brassard as the top options. Brassard has another year at $5 Million AAV and the Sens are reportedly asking for a first round pick and a prospect for the 30-year-old.
Bozak has only nine goals and will fall short of his career-high 55 points this season, but is a perfect fit as a third-line center, with playmaking ability, proficiency on special teams and effectiveness on faceoffs.
The long rumored interest in Bozak from the Pittsburgh Penguins and other teams looking for center depth and the lack of options at the deadline could drive up the price to the point that the return at the deadline is too tempting to refuse.
Potential return* - Conditional first round pick (a second rounder if the team loses in the first two rounds, a first if they make the Conference Final or Stanley Cup Final).
* = This is the same return that Dallas got from Anaheim for winger Patrick Eaves last deadline and centers are a more valuable commodity.
Leo Komarov - Of the three main pending UFA's Komarov is the least likely to be dealt based on his versatility, head coach Mike Babcock's dependence on the veteran to play in various situations and the likely return he would garner in the next eight days.
The 31-year-old can take faceoffs, is an integral part of the Leafs penalty killing unit and is the type of player that Babcock will not hesitate to move up and down the lineup. A team like the Washington Capitals (in need of depth and experience in their bottom six) might have interest in the veteran winger.
Potential Return - A conditional 2018 or 2019 second round pick
On Monday, we will take a look at the potential costs of what the Leafs would have to pay as buyers.
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Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
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