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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 appear 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 rental options that the Leafs may pursue:
Ben Chiarot – As reported by Friedman and Dreger last week, the 30-year-old Habs defenseman is someone that Toronto had interest in as an unrestricted free agent in 2019. Chiarot can play both the left and right side and provides the physicality the Leafs are looking for, but the reported cost would be a first-round pick.
Rasmus Ristolainen/Justin Braun – The Flyers appear to be set up to be sellers after losing 13 straight. Ristolainen may choose to test free agency and is the big, tough righty blueliner that Toronto could use, but Philadelphia would likely have to retain 50% of his $5.4 million salary to make things work. Braun is also a pending UFA but is more of a fit as a bottom pairing veteran replacement for Zach Bogosian.
Mark Girodano – The Toronto native is likely to be dealt by the expansion Kraken before the deadline and could be effective being reunited with former D partner TJ Brodie, but his $6.75 million salary would be difficult for the Leafs to fit under the cap unless the 38-year-old is traded through a third team.
Calvin deHaan – The oft-injured veteran like Chiarot is a lefty that can play both sides, and has stayed healthy in the final year of his contract. DeHaan is more of a stay-at-home type and can kill penalties, but has a $4.55 million cap hit.
John Klingberg – Known for his mobility and offensive creativity, Klingberg has been rumored to be asking for a trade out of Dallas after no traction came about in contract talks, but the cost and the type of defenseman that Toronto is looking for do not seem to be a good fit. Mark Pysyk – The former first-rounder has played all but one season in the Atlantic Division for Buffalo and Florida and would be a good add for veteran depth as a righty making less than $1 million.
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