Maple Leafs Linked to Top Center in Metropolitan Division Amid Fallout Involving Mitch Marner
Photo credit: Dennis Schneidler – Imagn Images
As the Maple Leafs look to find a solution to their center depth, one report has surfaced linking them to the New York Rangers’ top centerman.
Although some questioned why the Leafs would look to get older with the 34-year-old Kreider, he likely would have been a stop-gap with just two years remaining on his contract.
Rangers Have Approached Top Center Mika Zibanejad to Waive His No-Trade Clause
“There’s a chance that Drury has already worked it out with Zibanejad, who has five years at a $8.5 million average annual value remaining plus a full no-move clause, that moving on would be best,” wrote Staple before suggesting the Leafs as a potential target. “They’d still need to find a fit -the Leafs might have some interest and some space to fill.”
The cap hit is manageable, but the five years remaining and no-movement clause might be tough to swallow for the Maple Leafs even though Zibanejad is 32-years-old.
The Leafs don’t have many, if any, real, tangible assets to move to acquire the perennial 20+ goal-scorer, but given the low cost the Ducks paid to acquire Kreider, the idea is something Leafs GM Brad Treliving should certainly look into.
If the Leafs were to add the Swedish pivot, he would have an instant spot centering William Nylander and it would allow the Leafs to shift John Tavares to the wing or into the third-line center spot – as long as they are able to re-sign him.
Previously on MapleLeafsDaily
MAPLELEAFSDAILY.COM
COPYRIGHT @2025 – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
TERMSÂ Â –Â Â POLICIES