Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
If the Maple Leafs are sellers, some players are likelier to be dealt than others, and one fan’s list gives a pretty clear idea of the team’s retooling plan.
While they are riding a three-game win streak and have a pretty favourable schedule coming out of the Olympic break, the Toronto Maple Leafs may still be sellers at the deadline, especially if they are unsure about their ability to stick around in a playoff race.
Pretty much everyone minus the superstars are up for grabs it seems, and names like Bobby McMann, Nicolas Roy, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson are all potential candidates to be wearing new jerseys come March.
Jonas Siegel posted an entire list breaking down the likelihood of the roster members being traded and given all the noise we’ve heard about certain names and what they can bring in — it paints a pretty clear picture:
Siegel noted there are multiple tiers ranging from untouchable asset to almost guaranteed to move. It’s a pretty lengthy list, so let’s take a look at two specific categories: Likeliest to move, and unsurprising deals.
Who on the Maple Leafs is likeliest to be traded?
According to Siegel there are three names who are the best chances of getting dealt this spring:
(F) Calle Jarnkrok
(F) Scott Laughton
(F) Bobby McMann
It makes sense as to why these three would have the best chance to move, as all three are in different situations that Toronto may need to get out from under.
McMann is having a career year but is 30 years old and a free agent with a huge pay raise incoming. Toronto can’t guarantee that level of production and with the chance to get a first-round pick-plus for essentially a year and a half of production is a steal.
He’s going to be headed to a contender who needs top-six help and scoring, and it will be interesting to see if he gets the reported $5-million a year salary he’s expected to this summer.
Laughton is a player who could be argued to keep around for the locker room culture and while he’s built up a great relationship with his teammates — he’s not exactly a spring chicken.
If Toronto is retooling they are going to likely head towards a younger group of players and already have guys like Jacob Quillan who can come in and play the 4C role, especially if the team holds onto Nicolas Roy past the deadline.
Finally we come to the player who is almost guaranteed to be gone at some point this season and that’s Jarnkrok.
He’s been a healthy scratch a lot, is a pending free agent, 34 years old and is basically a warm body in case of emergency. Toronto has those in spades and have several NHL-caliber talent in the AHL who can come up to take his place.
Plus with him reportedly going back home to Sweden next year, it’s best to get anything they can for him instead of nothing and some playoff team could use a defensive-first versatile forward.
His time in Toronto will come to an end, and though he made a great impression at first, his production has slipped year after year and it’s time to say goodbye.
Deals that probably won’t be made — but aren’t too shocking if they do
Siegel noted there were five players who could be moved that wouldn’t really be the wildest moves around, but would also be pretty standard if they stuck around:
(D) Simon Benoit
(D) Oliver Ekman-Larsson
(D) Philippe Myers
(D) Troy Stecher
(F) Nick Robertson
The player who has gotten the most attention on this list is Ekman-Larsson, who is currently undergoing a career resurgence and could potentially end up turning a great season into a pile of draft capital.
He’s still a top-four defender, can still run a power-play and is a former Cup winner. A team like Edmonton or Dallas could absolutely use a puck-mover like him and while it would be hard to say goodbye; it’s hard to pass up the potential haul.
We’ll couple the next two as ‘the depth duo’ with Benoit and Myers. Both men if they get dealt aren’t going to bring in a ton, though the former might be able to garner at least a decent pick.
But let’s be honest, they are both depth players who aren’t going to have a ton of interest from teams who have minimal space to work with. Why spend on a Benoit when you can pay just a bit more for Luke Schenn? It’s a more sure option for teams, and Myers is fine as a seventh or eighth guy.
Toronto will need bodies to cover some guys who leave like Ekman-Larsson, so these guys are going to be called upon to help fill holes until season’s end (not like Toronto is gonna use their call-ups anyways).
But if they are gone, at least Toronto gets something for them albeit nothing spectacular.
This is a player who was a waiver pickup with literally no expectations beyond some injury insurance and he’s come in and played 20+ minutes a night while being a strong defensive presence.
Teams will come knocking but unless someone decides to really overpay and give Toronto a second or third-round pick for him — they would be better off keeping him than not.
Lastly, Robertson is a player who has been thrown around in trade rumours before but his recent play over the past couple of months should have locked down his spot going forward.
He’s already got his new career high in assists and is on pace to break both his highest point and goal total of his young career. He’s showing a lot more energy, and his defense and forechecking has been much more active recently.
Plus as a restricted free agent at only 24 years old, he fits a retooling timeline and will get a much bigger opportunity if the team decides it needs a makeover.
You’re risking a lot trading Robertson, who could very well explode offensively elsewhere and Toronto is left in the dust yet again.
Six months ago you may have said trade Robertson, but for now there should be no chance.
Previously on Hockey Patrol