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The Toronto Maple Leafs are among a number of clubs who are serious contenders for the Stanley Cup but do not have a lot of room under the league’s salary cap to add a player or two prior to the NHL trade deadline.
GM Kyle Dubas and AGM/capologist Brandon Pridham will be working extra hard over the next two months to a) move players on their roster to open up cap space, b) find players on other teams making a low salary, c) find teams that would be willing to retain salary in a trade on a short-term rental, d) finds teams willing to act as a third team in a deal, or e) find ways to think outside the box to create cap space to make a deal possible.
Based on the lack of experience and quality depth displayed during the absence of veteran Jake Muzzin, it is clear that the Leafs have to add to their blueline before the trade deadline. Youngsters Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren will need to play regularly before March 21 to gauge whether they can adequately fill bottom pair roles, along with the more experienced Justin Holl and Travis Dermott, but it is clear that Toronto has no one in their organization currently that can play on the right side with Muzzin that can adequately play in excess of 20 minutes per night in a high-pressured playoff situation.
There appears to be some conflicting points of view on what the Leafs may be going after. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman and TSN’s Darren Dreger believe it is possible that the Leafs may be interested in rentals, as (they were last season with Nick Foligno), while TSN’s Chris Johnston indicated that after giving up a slew of draft picks for rentals last season, Dubas could be looking for players with term remaining.
Here are some possible non-rental options that the Leafs may pursue:
Damon Severson/Ryan Graves – The Devils remain a budget team and next season Jack Hughes’ $8 million cap hit kicks in. In spite of PK Subban’s $9 million coming off the books, it is unlikely that GM Tom Fitzgerald will extend both Severson ($4.16 M) and Graves ($3.16 M) long term. The right-handed Severson would seem to be a better fit for Toronto.
Jakob Chychrun – The most popular name on the trade market currently, and probably out of Toronto’s price range, as Arizona is supposedly looking for a young NHL player, a top prospect and a first-round pick. Chychrun has three years left at a $4.6 million AAV.
David Savard – It appears that the Habs will be in full sell mode at the trade deadline with Jeff Gorton and new GM Kent Hughes at the helm. Rental Ben Chiarot might be someone that the Leafs are intrigued by, but the 31-year-old Savard (who was brought in to replace Shea Weber and is signed for three more years at $3.5 million per season) might be the long-term answer as a D partner for Jake Muzzin.
Scott Mayfield – The Isles also may be in sell mode if they cannot stage a comeback with all their games in hand. GM Lou Lamoriello does not have a lot of cap space to work with this summer with Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock signed long term and Noah Dobson looking for an extension. Mayfield is 29, making $1.45 million thru next season and will be looking for a payday that New York might not be able to afford.
Ivan Provorov/Travis Sanheim – Both Flyers blueliners are being listed since the Philadelphia hierarchy did not include their names as part of the core group going forward. Not so sure that GM Chuck Fletcher is going to move Provorov coming off a disappointing season with three years remaining on his deal, but Sanheim with a year left at $4.675 million might be trade fodder before the deadline or over the summer.
Jani Hakanpaa – This is more of a dream scenario and not based in reality. The big rangy Finn signed a three-year, $4.5 million deal with the Stars after splitting time with Anaheim and Carolina last season. His $1.5 million cap hit, size (6’5…, 220 lb) and his abilities as a penalty killer make him an attractive get, but only if the Leafs are convinced that either Rasmus Sandin or Timothy Liljegren are ready to step up into the top four.
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The Leafs begin a stretch of three games in four nights prior to the All-Star break in Detroit against the Red Wings on Saturday. Toronto will dress the same lineup that played in the 4-3 shootout win over Anaheim on Wednesday except for starting Petr Mrazek for the second time in three games. Jake Muzzin has still not been cleared from concussion protocol and will miss his fourth game and Sandin will take his place on the second pairing with Justin Holl. *******
Lot’s of â¤ï¸ for the 💙ðŸ¤
— Norman James (@IamNormanJames) April 26, 2021
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