Team: 2019-20 Toronto Maple Leafs

Initial Creation Date: Feb. 13, 2020

Published: Feb. 13, 2020

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

The Leafs and Rangers could be a good fit for a massive trade.

If Toronto can resign Muzzin a reasonable contract (6x5 or better) I think they ‘could’ afford to trade Rielly in the right deal. They likely sign Dermott cheap and Sandin is a stud already. The big four and top prospects aren’t going anywhere so unless Dubas is going to patch work this group by using other young assets for older vets, using Rielly as a trade chip could be the best way to get better.

Why is Rielly expendable?

-He’s injured.
-Two years (after this year) left til UFA
-Likely can’t afford his next contract
-He’s not ‘the best’ defensive defender
-He has lots of trade value
-keeping Muzzin ,Sandin and Dermott on the left is a solid left side D.

The backend next year could look like;

Muzzin 6 Holl 2
Sandin 1 Lilypad 1
Dermott 2 ???

Ceci and Barrie walk

So if the leafs trade a guy like Rielly what should they be looking for in return?

If possible you need to trade with a team that has a need for Rielly at LD and space (cap and holes) for young, good top 9 forwards like Kapanen or Johnsson. That team would also need to have good young RD and a young potential number one goalie that can play now.

Enter the Rangers.

The Rangers are not rebuilding but they are likely selling bigger names like Kreider so they don’t likely care that Rielly wouldn’t be back this year.

The Rangers have three ‘good’ goalies. Lundqvist has one more year left after this and isn’t going anywhere. They have made Georgiev available (as a potential number one) as they prefer Shesterkin. But if Georgiev is viewed internally as a number one maybe they’d move Shesterkin in the right deal.

The Rangers D core;

Skjei Trouba
Lindgren DeAngelo
Staal Fox
Hajek
Top prospects
Miller LD and Lundqvist RD

Three good RHD. Three not so good LHD. Staal is an anchor to the teams cap adding negative value to the team on ice. Skjei is young enough to improve but he looks like just a guy who’s likely overpaid. Lindgren is young but doesn’t look to have much upside as a stud. The prospects are likely still a few years away. (Maybe a gem somewhere in the system but I don’t know).

With the three righties, they have Trouba who just signed a huge contract. Leafs likely wouldn’t want him (at that money). DeAngelo has finally hit his stride and looks to be a solid Top 4 Pp guy that can produce. He’s also going to get paid this summer. And Fox, who’s the youngest of the three (21). Not as offensive as Tony but could be a decent pts guy. Looks like he’s doing better defensively. Lots of upside but also not a slam dunk. He’s in his first year of his three year ELC and he’s showing promise. This would be the player Toronto would likely ask for.

More pieces could be added to this trade that don’t include Toronto’s top 4 fwds or top prospects. The Rangers are looking for younger upgrades at Fwd but likely not prospects. They want to compete as soon as next year.

The Trade Proposal;

Rielly
Johnsson
Kapanen

Fox
Shesterkin
Kreider

Rangers top 4 next year;
Rielly Trouba.
Skjei DeAngelo

Kapanen and Johnsson likely play in the top 6 and are upgrades on most of their non-star forwards (Panarin Zib...). They are also cost controlled for a few years. Woll gives the Rangers a potential starter that’s a few years away.

Leafs Top 6 next year;
Muzzin Holl
Sandin Fox
Dermott Lilypad

Shesterkin would help now and could give the Leafs the flexibility to trade Anderson in the off-season. Kreider helps this year and likely walks in the summer.

This kind of trade could really help both teams. Fox could be a stud. And Shesterkin could be a Stud. But neither are a slam dunk to be worth just Rielly. and Johnsson are in their primes as a solid middle 6 players that could be even better higher in the lineup.