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A rare 1-for-1 trade option emerges for the Maple Leafs, but it comes with a catch
Photo credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
While not your typical trade, the Toronto Maple Leafs have a chance to add a perfect piece to the lineup that would help balance things out; on one condition.
All the discussion recently surrounding trade rumors and the Toronto Maple Leafs center around either adding a top-four defenseman or a top-six forward in order to make sure they have the firepower to withstand the playoff hunt going forward.
However, the team could also use a lot more balance in the lineup and make sure they have enough grit and defensive help up front to ensure they don't get overpowered.
Max Domi, Matias Maccelli, Calle Jarnkrok and company aren't exactly the gritty, no-nonsense players that Craig Berube needs for his system to work, and they need someone who can patrol the middle, play defense, kill penalties, and score a bit.
Well, a new report coming out of Minnesota shows that the Maple Leafs have a perfect opportunity to add a niche role to their lineup; so long as all conditions are met.
Minnesota may be ready to dump Ryan Hartman's salary
A report from Anthony Di Marco revealed that with the Minnesota Wild acquiring Quinn Hughes, they need to make a salary dump and could dangle center Ryan Hartman in a trade:
Leading up to the Wild's acquisition of all-star defenseman Quinn Hughes, I was told that Ryan Hartman was a name that the team was open to moving if they needed to clear out salary.
If the report is to be believed, Minnesota wants to clear out Hartman's $4-million salary, and while it's not the most expensive contract to take on, for the Maple Leafs they have little room for error.
There needs to be money in, money out. Toronto has only a few options that would get both them and Minnesota in a good spot, while also exchanging pieces both teams need.
How can Toronto acquire Ryan Hartman?
Maccelli is a name who could be traded, as he makes less money than Hartman, is younger, and would give the Wild a young project of a player to replace the youth they lost in Marco Rossi.
He hasn't fit in Toronto and could do well with Minnesota's run-and-gun style and with Hughes in the picture; may find himself on the scoreboard more.
If not him, then Toronto could dangle a veteran of their own in Calle Jarnkrok. He's good enough to play on any line, makes only $2.1-million, and is a free agent at the end of the year so he's not a long-term commitment.
Toronto still needs to figure out how to clear some room for him but he would at least provide something the team is missing: grittiness.
For all the talk about them being hard to play against, the Maple Leafs have been a bit of a pushover at times, and Hartman is known to be a hard forechecker, physical and a. great penalty killer so bringing him in will give them a boost no doubt.
It's a trade that fits a specific need for Toronto; that being harder and nastier to play against and an improvement up front defensively.
It's not time to panic, and this is not an urgent deal but it is something to be looked into especially if Minnesota is going to keep pushing all-in this season.