The acquisition of defenseman Jake Muzzin from Los Angeles Kings earlier this week did not cost the Toronto Maple Leafs anyone from their NHL lineup (Kasperi Kapanen or Andreas Johnsson), first round picks Timothy Liljegren and Rasmus Sandin or Toronto Marlies leading scorer Jeremy Bracco, but GM Kyle Dubas initially was asked for some of these players.
According to Elliotte Friedman’s “31 Thoughts” column, Kings GM Rob Blake and Dubas haggled over the 18-year-old Sandin (selected 29th overall by the Leafs at the NHL Draft in Dallas last June) before settling on a package included the Leafs 2019 first rounder, winger Carl Grundstrom and 2018 second round pick Sean Durzi,
Toronto began their pursuit of Muzzin just after Christmas and continued to check in with Blake throughout January. Friedman indicates that Tampa Bay had expressed some interest in the veteran blueliner and that Montreal was interested in acquiring the 29-year-old as part of a deal for Max Pacioretty last summer.
Reports earlier this month stated the Leafs would not include Sandin or Kapanen in any deal for a defenseman and potential deals for blueline help with Carolina and St. Louis were likely going to have to include someone off the NHL roster.
The Leafs open to moving Liljegren, their 2019 first rounder or Bracco, but the Kings opted for Durzi over Liljegren (Toronto’s 2017 top pick) in part because scouts are currently down on the Swedish blueliner.
This is a fortunate turn of events for the Leafs, just as it was less than two years ago when Liljegren’s stock fell in the months leading up to the 2017 NHL Draft in Chicago because of the Swedish blueliner’s bout with mononucleosis. The 19-year-old was playing well for the AHL Marlies before suffering a high ankle sprain in early December and could make the Leafs out of training camp next September, whereas Durzi is having a second straight strong OHL season as an overager.
Toronto is said to still be interested in adding another blueliner before February 25th and have over $4 Million is cap space left, but Friedman reports that Dubas wants to keep $3.75 Million of that space for the expected performance bonuses for Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews this season instead of carrying it over to the 2019-20 cap and that they may be looking to move salary out to bring someone else in.
That could mean a deal involving pending UFA Jake Gardiner, who might be the top rental blueliner if the Leafs made it known that he was available, or possibly Nikita Zaitsev and his $4.5 Million AAV, but the 27-year-old might be tough to move with five-years left on his seven-year contract.
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On Dubas, Muzzin, Nylander, possible deals ahead and more...
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