Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos has made some wild trade proposals in the past, but his latest blockbuster involving Leafs captain Auston Matthews may actually make sense.
Leafs Make First Significant Change. More to Come?
Savard had been in charge of a horrendous power play that is just 12-for-90 on the season and went 0-for-10 on their road trip.
Many expect Savard to be the first domino to fall in what will be a number of changes once the holiday roster freeze comes to an end on December 28th. One of the biggest changes however, will likely have to wait until the off-season.
Is LA the Ideal Trade Partner For the Leafs?
On Monday’s edition of ‘Real Kyper & Bourne’, Kypreos suggested that it may be time for the Leafs and Matthews to have a conversation about a fresh start. The Arizona native has a no-movement clause, so any trade would involve the two sides working together and would almost certainly be an off-season blockbuster, given his $13.25M cap hit.
In suggesting a fresh start for the Leafs and Matthews, Kypreos highlighted the LA Kings as an ideal landing spot for the Leafs captain.
“Auston Matthews to the LA Kings is the play… They’ve got Kopitar leaving and they need somebody.”
Kypreos went on to say that the Leafs should get at least three quality assets in return for the 28-year-old, suggesting that the return would be at least “two players that can play now and a first-round pick.”
Although the former NHLer, turned analyst has made some wild proposals in the past, a deal with the Kings actually makes some sense. The Kings have what Kypreos thinks the Leafs would be looking for — a big center that can skate in Quinton Byfield and a mobile defenseman in someone like Brandt Clarke.
Whether the Kings would part with Byfield and Clarke is another scenario that would have to be explored, but those two would be the starting point, should the Leafs consider dealing their captain in the off-season.
Previously on Toronto Hockey Daily