The Toronto Maple Leafs have endured a trying season with a bleak outlook at this juncture. They have struggled to maintain consistency early on, are outplayed most nights, and find themselves six points back of the final Wild Card spot in the East entering the Olympic break.They have not been mathematically eliminated from the postseason just yet, but the odds are not on their side to qualify for the playoffs for a 10th straight season. It is therefore in their best interest to recalibrate the makeup of their roster and set themselves up for future success as soon as next year through a retool at the deadline. They could restock the cupboard with draft picks and prospects to use to make bigger upgrades or look to find disgruntled young players who need a fresh start somewhere else.The latter option can be an intriguing one if they can locate the ideal targets that fit their window and already have some NHL experience under their belt. Which is why it would be in the Leafs’ best interest to make an offer for Anaheim Ducks defenceman Pavel Mintyukov.
Sennecke does well to recover after losing this puck, and this is where Pavel Mintyukov is at his best: operating in the offensive zone with the puck on his stick. He displays some nice patience and great vision to find Gauthier on the far side
On the surface, the idea that the Ducks would be open to moving on from Mintyukov less than four years after selecting him 10th overall in 2022 would seem like a stretch. After all, they are a team on the rise and the Russian blueliner fits right into their window of contention as he is only 22 years old at the time of filing. His offensive production this season is not jaw-dropping, but he has amassed 15 points (six goals and nine assists) in 51 games. Mintyukov is capable of producing at least 20 points or more, as evidenced by his rookie season when he potted 28 points in 2023-24.
When you dig a bit deeper, you find a young player who is feeling disgruntled by his reduced role and wouldn’t mind a change of scenery if it were presented to him. Mintyukov has been supplanted on the left side of Anaheim’s depth chart by Jackson LaCombe and Olen Zellweger, while also being healthy scratched by head coach Joel Quenneville in favour of Ian Moore. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported back in November that Mintyukov would be open to a move if he was not provided a stable spot in the lineup, and it’s fair to wonder if those feelings resurface closer to the deadline as this also occurred last season.
Mintyukov’s potential has certainly not subsided, but this has the makings of a buy-low candidate that could benefit from being in a different environment. This is an offensive defenceman who is a strong puck-mover, has high mobility, and has good reach to both fend off defenders and break up plays. The Ducks may not require him since they already have LaCombe and Zellweger, but a team like the Leafs could benefit greatly from adding Mintyukov into the mix.
It’s been well documented that the Leafs have had a difficult time moving the puck on the back-end and don’t have enough options internally that can provide that on a consistent basis. That glaring weakness got exposed by the Florida Panthers in the playoffs and is a key reason why this year’s team has had a difficult time getting the puck up the ice. General manager Brad Treliving may have been ramping up efforts to address this issue in recent weeks, but a move has yet to materialize at this point.
Targeting Mintyukov would help address this problem while fitting into the contention window that the Leafs wish to keep open with Auston Matthews and William Nylander still under contract. There would be an opportunity for Mintyukov to get regular minutes and potentially power-play time, especially if the likes of Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Morgan Rielly are moved out in the months ahead. Being in a better situation that would allow him to regain some confidence lost from being left behind by the Ducks could help unlock his potential as an impact offensive defenceman.
Anaheim finds itself in the playoff picture in the West and would likely be a buyer at the deadline, so it’s a good match for a Leafs team looking to sell off some assets. Whether the Ducks are getting back an Ekman-Larsson, Bobby McMann, or Scott Laughton, the Leafs would be smart to ask for Mintyukov to be part of the package they are getting back in addition to a draft pick or two. Even if it’s more of a buy-low trade, it wouldn’t be too outlandish a price for Toronto.
However it is achieved, it would be in the Leafs’ best interest to target Mintyukov as part of their retool efforts.
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