Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
According to Elliotte Friedman, the Maple Leafs could take on a contract as long as it gives them some more assets, and he could actually be a key part of the lineup.
The Olympics are now getting into the full swing of things and with that comes the NHL taking a two-week break where teams can’t make trades and have limited roster movement options though extensions and signings are fair game.
For the Toronto Maple Leafs, it becomes a game of will they or won’t they in terms of selling players, and while they can get a feasibly large amount if they decide to sell on four or five players, though that would strip the team bare and lead to needing some replacement bodies to play out the year.
Toronto can take advantage of Los Angeles’ critical need
They’ll have some guys in the AHL they can bring up who rightly deserve their chance, but according to Elliotte Friedman, the Maple Leafs may be able to take on a pretty decent player while adding some very important assets.
Talking on TNT Thursday night, Holland mentioned Warren Foegele — who has been a scratch — as someone he’ll need to move.
It makes sense as to why the Kings would want to get rid of a body due to them bringing in Artemi Panarin and would like to swap out the money spent on a winger and put it towards a pivot.
Well that means that the Toronto Maple Leafs could be a perfect destination for the forward, while also being able to take back a few assets as well.
Foegele, 29, is a two-time 20-goal scorer who has 217 points in 556 games. Known also for his defensive game, if the Maple Leafs were to bring him in he could end up being a strong part of a revamped bottom-six.
He currently makes $3.5-million for this season and the next, and while it might be a bit of an overpayment for someone who is likely a bottom-six winger, he’s going to play an important role.
Why Warren Foegele makes sense for the Maple Leafs
As a veteran of nine seasons, he would be the perfect middle ground mentor for players like Jacob Quillan and Bo Groulx, though could also be a great offensive piece alongside Dakota Joshua.
Los Angeles owns a slew of picks, and the Maple Leafs are going to be looking to take on some assets and wouldn’t mind adding Foegele into the mix so long as it brings back a couple of LA’s nine (!) 2026 draft picks.
But even if he comes in as a replacement piece, you have a great addition to the lineup who isn’t a long-term commitment and on a deal that would be still cheaper than a Bobby McMann extension, and he brings you back assets.
Oh, it also helps that the forward hails from Markham, Ontario and is known to have cheered for the Maple Leafs when he was a kid; and as we’ve seen before that is a very enticing proposition.
He could be more willing to make sure Toronto isn’t on his minimal five-team no-trade list, and would be given a good opportunity to earn an extension next year.
So to recap, the Maple Leafs — if they were to take on Foegele’s contract — could get a potential 20-goal scorer, with a great defensive mind, leadership, flexibility, size, and at a cheaper rate than some others? Plus draft picks on top?
Even though this is hockey, that’s a home run any day of the week and Toronto has to make sure they don’t take a swing and miss out on a potentially underrated bit of business.
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