All Possible Players The Leafs Can Target

Dylan Strome

*Strome has fallen out of favor inn Chicago, but has proven to be productive in the past. From 2018-20, he had 2.5 points per 60 at 5v5 when playing alongside Kane & DeBrincat. Last season, he scored at a 4.76 points per 60 rate in 126 minutes alongside Kubalik & Kurashev. I think he could provide some depth scoring alongside Spezza to start, plus wouldn't be expensive.

Denis Malgin / Joe Miller

Evgeni Malkin (50% Retained Salary)

*If PIT is out of the playoff picture by playoffs, Geno is one of the more expensive rentals I could see TOR targeting. Amongst active players, he is 3rd in playoff points per game and has led the playoffs in scoring twice. He still played very well in last year's series.

Alex Kerfoot
Topi Niemela
2022 1st Round Pick

Alexis Lafreniere

*This is a lot to give up for an unproven player but I truly believe that under a good player development coach like Keefe, Lafreniere would be successful. He would be given more opportunities to utilize his strengths such as forechecking, net-driving and puck carrying in transition. His current 0.7 iXG/60 + 0.8 xA/60 is not far off from the likes of Panarin, Marner, Marchand, Kaprizov and Kane, so under better player usage, he could be a beast.

Rodion Amirov
Roni Hirvonen
2022 2nd Round Pick

Tomas Hertl (50% Retained Salary)

*Aside from Geno, Hertl will probably be the best player available at this deadline, so expect him to be costly.

Matthew Knies
2022 1st Round Pick

Filip Forsberg

*He may cost more than this but I just based this off the 2019 Taylor Hall to Arizona trade. He provides power forward qualities as well as elite puck carrying skills, he will play in the top 6.

Dimitry Ovechnikov
Axel Rindell
2022 1st Round Pick

Taylor Hall (50% Retained)
Brandon Carlo

*The main reason why I offered so much is because both players have term at a reasonable cap hit. Boston is in a tough situation as they have major holes on the team from the Krug, Krejci and Rask departures. I can see them following out of the playoff picture and selling some pieces, Hall would be a good complimentary forward due to his forechecking and Carlo was excellent alongside Krug.

Alex Steeves
Topi Niemela
2022 2nd Round Pick

Rickard Rakell
Josh Manson

*Not too much to give up, but it is for 2 pure rentals. Rakell is like a poor man’s Forsberg and Manson would be a defenceman who’d solidify the Leafs’ defence.

Ryan Trevberg
Travis Dermott
2022 1st Round Pick

Jakob Chychrun
Alex Galchenyuk

*The most expensive trade suggestion of this post, Chychrun is a struggling defenceman on a rebuilding team, but in the past he has shown he can perform at an elite level. Alongside someone like Muzzin, he could give Toronto one of the best D cores in the NHL.

Rodion Amirov
Rasmus Sandin
2022 1st Round Pick

Joe Pavelski (50% Retained)
John Klingberg

*Two rentals for a high price once again, Pavelski could add to the Leafs powerplay woes while Klingberg solidified the top pair alongside Muzzin.

Matthew Knies
Topi Niemela
2022 1st

Shayne Gostisbehere (50% Retained)
Lawson Crouse

Gostisbehere has quietly had an excellent year while Crouse plays like the idealized bottom 6 power forward.

Nick Ritchie
2022 2nd

Ben Chiarot

*Leafs will need a bigger sample size for Chiarot before they trade for him, he has been bad in the past. This season he has played solidly in a very big role for MTL, he could be an under the radar pickup.

Nick Ritchie