40-Goal Scorer Emerges as Potential Maple Leafs Trade Target Ahead of the Deadline

It's no secret the Toronto Maple Leafs are going to get some type of deal done by March 7. Whether it's for a third line center, or defensive help -- the team is gearing up to make the best trade possible.

But if they wanted to add both a center and a scoring winger to their arsenal, they should look to Seattle Kraken forward Jared McCann, whose name has recently surfaced in trade talks.

With Toronto needing some defense and scoring on their third line: Is McCann the right fit? Let's take a look.

Though it took awhile for McCann to get his stride, the Stratford, Ontario native has scored 96 goals and 86 assists in 233 games over the past three seasons including a 40-goal campaign in 2022-23.

He's a reliable scorer, plays the penalty kill, can slide in and out of the second or third line depending on situation and is a sneaky good playmaker. He has that clutch factor as well, scoring 22 game-winning goals in his 10-year NHL career.

His possession metrics are down a bit this season, but over the last three seasons has been close to 60% -- a fantastic number all things considered and he plays very similar to Yanni Gourde; another potential Leafs trade target.

Adding McCann to the lineup would allow Toronto to spread their depth out a little bit more as well:

With Toronto linked to names such as Brayden Schenn, Scott Laughton, and the aforementioned Yanni Gourde, he offers the best of both term and financial cap.

Schenn costs $6M for the next three years, Laughton has two years left at $3M, and Gourde is a one year hit of $5.16M.

While Laughton is cheaper with the same amount of term, McCann offers way more on the offensive side and is more than good enough to play the defensive side of things.

Toronto may need to ask for a bit of salary retention, but if that works out and Seattle is interested in pieces like Nicholas Robertson, a mid-tier prospect and Toronto's 2026 1st -- it could be enough to entice them.

But whatever Brad Treliving and the Maple Leafs do: The team is going to look a lot different in the coming weeks; for better or worse.