It’s that time of year again, we are less than 90 hours away from the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline, and once again the Toronto Maple Leafs are looking to add to make a post-season push that will hopefully conclude in John Tavares and company hoisting Lord Stanley’s Cup, the real Stanley Cup and not the one you can get at Walmart, over their head. They have already added Ilya Lyubushkin in a 3-team trade with Anaheim and Carolina to get him at a cap hit that is UNDER the NHL’s current minimum salary for NHL players not on an Entry Level Contract (ELC). Having both teams retain salary in the trade also allows the Maple Leafs to make more additions to their roster before 3 pm on Friday, March 8. Let’s look at some additions the Maple Leafs could make to their roster, shall we?
Defencemen
As has been the case for the past few seasons the Maple Leafs biggest need is on defence, specifically a right-handed shot defenceman. Here are a few available options in no specific order.
- Sean Walker – RD – PHI – $2.65 AAV – UFA
Sean was acquired in a three-team trade this past summer as part of the Los Angeles Kings trying to free up some salary cap space, just to waste it on the Pierre-Luc Dubois contract good luck with that one Rob Blake, and he has seemed to have a bit of a career resurgence under coach John Tortorella. Sean has been known as a player who likes to join the team on the attack but has seemed to have a nice balance between offense and defence this year for the Flyers. The Flyers seem to be on the offensive more often than not while he is on the ice. He is on an affordable contract that is expiring at the end of the year and first-year GM Danny Briere can move Sean to add some assets to their team especially after already acquiring Jamie Drysdale from Anaheim earlier this season.
- Matt Dumba – RD – ARI – $3.9 AAV – UFA
Matt signed in Arizona late in the free agent season after most other teams had used all available cap space in signing other players. He took a chance this season in joining the Coyotes roster and it hasn’t worked out as well for him as he had hoped. His offensive stats have taken a hit this season but still is a good skater who is more than capable of laying a big open-ice hit in a punishing manner. Currently, he is playing more than 20 minutes a night but on a team with a bit better defense, he could excel in a lower-minute role. A current cap hit of $3.9 is not too bad for a player of his stature but the Coyotes may need to retain some of that salary, and maybe find a third team to retain more, if they wish to move on from the 29-year-old pending Ufa with no trade protection.
- Zach Bogosian – RD – MIN – $850 AAV – UFA
Zach is a player I was wishing the Leafs got years ago when he was on waivers before he went to Tampa. During the 2020-2021 Canadian Bubble Covid season, I finally got my wish. Zach looked good playing in Toronto and I wish he would have stayed but not being able to have his family with him and all the other restrictions that the Canadian Government had implemented during that timeframe took a toll on him and I don’t blame him for wanting to be with his family again. Now with all that being said, all the restrictions have been lifted for some time and he would fit in well on this defense core, maybe not as an everyday defender but a major upgrade as a 7th defenceman in the lineup. He brings a blend of Stanley Cup experience and toughness that is not commonly found at this time of the season as being available. He is on a modest contract with a cap hit of $850 thousand and would be a great add even if only as a rental for possibly a mid to late-round pick going the other way.
- David Savard – RD – MTL – $3.5 AAV – 2025 UFA
Now I know, trades between the forever rivals do seem like a bit of a stretch but it is something that has happened in the past, the turtle neck man himself Tomas Plekanec comes to mind, and with Montreal being near the bottom of the league again they are looking to move pieces for assets and this could be one that would get them some decent assets for when Les Canadiens are contenders again. David is a Stanley Cup winner with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2021, over Montreal again strange 2020-2021 Covid season rules, that would be an asset in the locker room. His style of play better suits the post-season style of play with his physical play, shot-blocking abilities, and being a good penalty killer. He is under contract until the end of the 2024-2025 season at a decent cap hit for a player of his capabilities but may require Montreal and possibly one other team to retain his salary and probably cost the first-round pick and a prospect like Easton Cowan to get him.
- Andrew Peeke – RD – CLB – $2.75 AAV – 2026 UFA
Andrew is a 6-foot-3 mobile defenceman who could benefit from a change of scenery after struggling to find a consistent spot in the Blue Jackets lineup this season. Even though he is tall he is not overly physical in his play and struggles while being pressured by opponents. He is also under contract until the end of the 2025-2026 season so you would get him for two more seasons after this season, which will cost more than I’m sure other teams would be willing to give up for a player of his stature.
- Alexandre Carrie – RD – NSH – $2.5 AAV – UFA
It seems like Alex’s name has been coming up in rumors for most of the season. He might not be the biggest player but he more than makes up for it in his hockey IQ. Standing at 5-foot-11 he’s not going to outmuscle anyone but he is a solid player in his positioning to make sure he gets the puck more than his opponents. He plays more than 18 minutes a night in Nashville where he is known for having a real competitive streak to his game and a good shot blocker as well. His modest cap hit of $2.5 million could be attractive for other teams looking to acquire his services even if only as a rental player.
- Adam Boqvist – RD – CLB – $2.6 AAV – 2025 RFA
Adam is another player that could use a change of scenery. He hasn’t played in an AHL game for four years but is in and out of the lineup in Columbus regularly. There seems to be a lot of upsides to this young player’s game and his offensive instincts are solid. The right fit on the right team would boost his confidence and I’m sure he would excel in that kind of situation as well. He is a Restricted Free Agent, RFA, after next season and that may cost a team something a little more than they are willing to give up.
Forwards
While the Maple Leafs may seem to be set on their offensive lines, just like any team will say, maybe a new player at this time of the season could bring just that little something else they are currently lacking in their lineup to put them over the edge in the Stanley Cup odds and provide that spark needed to play games into June to hoist the cup over their heads. With that being said let’s look at some potential fits at forward.
- Adam Henrique – C – ANA – $5.83 AAV – UFA
Adam is a guy who seems like he has been around forever. At 34 years of age, he is looking to add more playoff experience to his resume after only playing in 4 postseason games since his run to the finals with the 2012 New Jersey Devils team that lost to the Los Angeles Kings in the Stanley Cup Finals. Adam has a great hockey sense and is well on his way to another 20-goal season this year. He has won nearly 54% of his faceoffs this season as well. He is very versatile as a player being able to play on both the power play as well as kill penalties, or even play on the wing if needed. He is on an expiring deal for a team that will miss the playoffs which makes him a traditional trade-deadline rental player.
- Frank Vatrano – F – ANA – $3.65 AAV – 2025 UFA
As well as being the teammate of Adam Henrique, Frank is having a career year in which he is on pace for a 44+ goal season and a 66+ point season, both of which would be career highs. While he is known primarily as an offensive player he has improved defensively lately as well, only being overshadowed by the fact he plays on a terrible Ducks team. As a competitive player who is under contract for another season after this one, Frank would make a good addition to any team looking to add this trade deadline. He is also a threat to score short-handed and is coming off his first NHL All-Star game.
- Tyler Toffoli – F- NJD – $4.25 AAV – UFA
Tyler is another guy that seems to have been around the league forever. The veteran winger has been a great fit on the Devils team, but they are struggling to solidify a playoff spot. The team may want to extend him, but they could also look to move forward by this Friday if they cannot work out an extension. He is on an adequate expiring contract with a cap hit of $4.25 for the season. He is well on his way to having a second straight 30-goal season. He is a strong skater with a quick release and an eye for scoring that would benefit any team. He is a top 6 forward on any team but could also be sneaky on a team’s third line too.
- Jordan Eberle – F – SEA – $5.5 AAV – UFA
When I think of Jordan Eberle I still think of the 2009 World Junior Championships Semi-Finals against Russia where Ryan Ellis kept the puck in the offensive end, a scrum happened, and John Tavares put it on the net, the shot was blocked and then Jordan Eberle takes it off the defender and dances around the Russian Goalie Vadim Zhelobnyuk to tie the game with 5.9 seconds left in the third period, to keep the drive for 5 still alive. He started this season slow but the scoring touch has returned as the season has gone on. He is on pace to score 20+ goals as he has in every season of his career. He would benefit most from being on a skilled line that is counted on to produce offensively. His two seasons on Long Island have also added valuable two-long playoff run experiences that would help any team looking to make a deep run themselves this season.
- Scott Laughton – C – PHI – $3 AAV – 2026 UFA
Scott is a player that could use a change of scenery as well. This season under Joh Tortorella has been one that the coach has described as “Inconsistent”. He has dropped in goals, points, and ice time this season. He is still under contract for two more seasons after this one and could dramatically help upgrade a team’s bottom 6 forwards. Plus bonus point for Scott being a former member of the Oshawa Generals.
There are some honorable mentions of players that could be acquired, and they are as follows:
- Noah Hanifin – LD – CGY – not a right-handed shot.
- Anthony Duclair – LW/RW – SJ – don’t see him as a fit.
- Sam Carrick – C – ANA – Not an upgrade on the current roster.
- Tyler Johnson – C – CHI – Although he is a two-time cup champion, not a real upgrade at the bottom 6 centres.
- Tony DeAngelo – RD – CAR – JUST NO!! Too many personal issues for this player, would not jell with the Maple Leafs lineup.
In Conclusion
I feel like the Leafs should be looking to add to the right defense by acquiring Zach Bogosian, Matt Dumba, or Adam Boqvist in that order. Now with that being said, adding some forwards would help as well and they should look at adding either Tyler Taffoli, Scott Laughton, or Jordan Eberle. Tyler Taffoli would benefit from coming home, Scott Laughton would be nice to see with other General alumni John Tavares but mostly I wish they would add Jordan Eberle just because it would be great to see him raise the Stanley Cup over his head after the Maple Leafs defeat the Edmonton Oilers in the Finals and he can rub it in their faces lol. (Just kidding…maybe).
So, Brad, it’s trade time. MAKE SOME MOVES PLEASE!!!!
ScortonBoy17.ca 
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