The NHL trade deadline is still months away but rumour season has begun in earnest. Outlets and insiders often put together a list of potential trade candidates, setting the battlegrounds for teams looking to add to their rosters.
Recently, Nick Kypreos debuted his trade board for the season, offering up a mix of surprising options that might be available alongside some standard choices as well. Kypreos is not one of the league’s foremost insiders, but does have a unique perspective as a former player who has connections throughout the hockey world. From trainers and equipment managers to agents and owners, Kypreos does have a distinct vantage point.
Let’s take a look at his trade board to see what names the Leafs might be in on.
The best of the best
These are the biggest names that might make sense for the Leafs, and the most costly. Conceptually, adding these impact players would be a boost, but there are complications. Both in cap space and in acquisition cost, the price may be unreasonable or untenable. There is no guarantee that these players would even be available, as all their respective teams have seen them as part of their core group.
Sam Bennett and Rasmus Andersson
A pending UFA, Bennett often features as a Leafs signing in fantasy mock rosters for next season. While not the biggest player, Bennett is a physical force. With enough skill to play with high-end linemates, Bennett has become the player that Brad Treliving’s Calgary Flames envisioned when drafting him fourth overall in 2015.
Rasmus Andersson shares that Treliving connection, and with some term remaining, the right handed, top-four option, can contribute on both special teams and plays with an edge.
Both players would command a rich trade return, perhaps too much for the Leafs to match. The Florida Panthers would need to add a significant contributor to keep their chance of repeating open, but that objective could be served through other transactions as well. The Flames are more likely to part with Andersson, but again the cost will be high. The Flames have seemed completely unwilling to negotiate with Treliving, complicating matters.
Brock Nelson, Chris Kreider, and Nazem Kadri
Within the confines of this season, some might feel that Nelson is every bit as good an addition as Bennett. A fantastic mid-range scorer, a two-way possession centre, and a proven playoff performer, Nelson is likely to be the belle of the ball if the New York Islanders make him available. A pending UFA, Nelson might command a similar price to Bennett, though the nature of the return will likely be different. The Islanders could jumpstart a retool with a shrewd trade haul, which would be a change from their status quo.
With Matthew Knies, Max Pacioretty, and Bobby McMann making huge impacts on the Leafs lineup, Kreider joins Nelson as a slam-dunk upgrade to the forward group. A power winger, Kreider brings strength and speed in spades. Though his days of scoring 50 goals are likely in the rearview, Kreider is also more of a net-front scorer than John Tavares or Pacioretty, and could challenge Knies for the spot on the power play.
Though not on Kypreos’ list, Ryan O’Reilly joins Kadri as a potential feel-good returnee for the Leafs. Kadri in particular has a significant contract in cap dollars and years remaining. O’Reilly might be the better fit stylistically, though both players would be nice additions in principle. The price and subsequent lack of cap flexibility might be too much. The Nashville Predators and Calgary Flames both already have multiple 2025 first round picks. While they could stand to add even more, the appetite for more creative returns exists.
Forward help
With the Leafs believed to be focused on forwards, there are several depth or energy options. These options might come into play if the Leafs ghastly injury luck persists through the winter months. Without any confirmed long-term injuries, these additions might not make sense right now. Still, certain probabilities might drastically change this belief.
Drew O’Connor, Yanni Gourde, Brandon Tanev, Frank Vatrano, Mathieu Olivier, and Scott Laughton
O’Connor is certainly not the biggest brand name, but he might be the most impactful of this group. A big speedy winger who can forecheck, O’Connor’s minuscule cap hit also makes his acquisition cost more expensive. The good news for the Leafs is that former GM Kyle Dubas and former director of amateur scouting Wes Clark likely value some of the Leafs mid-tier prospects. The Penguins do seem to be open for business, but O’Connor could be part of their plans going forward as well. Perhaps another smaller deal could precipitate, as Jesse Puljujarvi brings many of the same attributes and will be less expensive.
Of the remaining players, Vatrano is the most offensively gifted. He plays a power style the Leafs will like, though a smaller frame. His shot is notable. Olivier has a shot as well, or at least has been scoring, but is an enforcer. He recently extended with the Columbus Blue Jackets, which might up the acquisition cost. It might be irresponsible to play him on a third line for the long term, but unlike Ryan Reaves, he is at least an option to pinch up.
Gourde brings rare championship pedigree, a feisty and versatile checking centre. The Seattle Kraken made a curious choice to invest heavily in Chandler Stephenson, who might have made Gourde redundant. A pending UFA, Gourde might be open to a change of scenery, pushed down the lineup for a non-playoff team.
He might not bring as much offence as he used to, and perhaps not much more than fellow centre Laughton does. A bit bigger and meaner, Laughton is more of a goal scorer than Gourde at this point. Still, With Max Domi likely to be on the Leafs third line, Laughton might not have enough of an offensive game to fit. Brandon Tanev is even less likely to support a quality offensive linemate, though joining his brother on the Leafs would help the team in other ways.
A Rielly partner
With a rock-solid top four that includes three left shots, the natural lean is to acquire a right shot for further balance. It should be acknowledged that Conor Timmins has separated himself from the depth, even pushing for the Leafs top four for minutes. Until Timmins does earn a spot with Morgan Rielly, the concept of adding a right shot is to find Rielly a suitable partner. As Oliver Ekman-Larsson has been able to contribute on his weak side in this spot, a left shot might have to be an upgrade on Simon Benoit as Timmins’ partner.
On the right, Rasmus Ristolainen might be the best option. Often maligned by the stats community, Ristolainen has been playing the best hockey of his career as a member of the Philadelphia Flyers. Perhaps playing on the best team of his career will bring even more out of him.
Alexandre Carrier is a smaller speedier player, which might make him incompatible with the Leafs needs. Will Borgen is not much of an upgrade on Philippe Myers. Perhaps the best option is David Savard, a physical defensive defenceman. Savard is likely the most traditional fit alongside Rielly.
Vincent Desharnais, not on Kypreos’ list, might be a cheaper option of this ilk, as might twice ex-Leaf Luke Schenn.
The left seems a little less likely, and tailoring an acquisition to Timmins’ breakout is bold. Benoit is already a stylistic fit in this spot, and the Leafs clearly value size. Ivan Provorov might have a bit more of a well-rounded impact, though the fit remains inelegant.
Defensive options Mario Ferraro and Marcus Pettersson might be an upgrade over Benoit, though not as physical. None of these options seem a natural fit for the Leafs, as it stands.
Little need for goalies
The Leafs tandem has been incredible, but both Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll have concerning injury histories. The Leafs goalie prospects are quite promising, though it would be too much to rely on Dennis Hildeby or Artur Akhtyamov in a regular role. In between, veteran Matt Murray has championship experience, but injury concerns of his own.
There might be room for an addition, but we should not expect the Leafs to be in on any of the goalies on Kypreos’ list. John Gibson and Philipp Grubauer are far too expensive to be considered options, and neither would seem to be an upgrade over Stolarz or Woll.
A clear need
Heading into trade season, the Leafs clearly need an impact forward more than anything else.
Finding Rielly a partner is also important, but as we’ve seen before, can be done with a third round pick at the deadline.
Toronto’s scoring issues have been on full display recently, and with their playoff history, a clear upgrade in the middle six is needed. The price will be high, but the Leafs have the assets to be in on just about anybody.
And with the Atlantic Division seemingly up for grabs, going all in this season feels like the right move.
