A rare big-body power forward could be the Leafs' best value add on the trade market

A potential option has emerged to helps the Leafs depth as a new report suggests a big, veteran forward is on the market, and a highly intriguing option as a cheap addition.

According to a report from Elliotte Friedman, Nashville Predators forward Michael McCarron is a name that is expected to gain interest from teams as the NHL trade deadline nears.

McCarron, 30, has nine points in 47 games this season. The 6'6 center is capable of playing both as a center and on the wing, largely used in the bottom-six with a face-off win rate of 54% on the season.

A veteran forward, McCarron is a former first round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, 25th overall. McCarron is on his ninth season in the league, having played 349 career NHL games while being a strong defensive faceoff taker.

The trade market might not be as deep as some teams would have liked, but McCarron could quietly be a highly coveted trade chip, including for a team like the Toronto Maple Leafs.

As noted, McCarron is a big, reliable faceoff taker who has been successful on the penalty kill, something that would help a contending team looking to add some defensive reliability.

What may be the most valuable asset McCarron holds is his contract. Earning just $900,000 in his final season, McCarron is a highly valuable low-cost option at under $1-million that is a consistent full-time NHLer.

Nearly every team in the NHL could use a player like McCarron, and at his salary makes for a highly valuable depth move, but it's also his friendly contract that might help Nashville knowing the value of such a contract per production.

For the Toronto Maple Leafs, if they were to move out a forward that has been rumored such as Max Domi, a cheap depth option such as McCarron could be a good way to add at forward while still shedding enough salary to still buy additional players.

McCarron could slide into the Leafs lineup as a fourth line center, or on the wing, playing a role similar to Steven Lorentz, potentially taking Lorentz's spot on the top PK unit.

Nashville has additional players that could be intriguing. A potential package of McCarron and defenseman Nick Perbix would be a potential way for the Leafs to fill their need for a right-handed defenseman and add some depth at forward, a need if a forward is dealt and if Dakota Joshua is moved to LTIR.

A few teams will likely be calling the Predators on Michael McCarron, and for his cost and reliability, he may be the right depth move for the Leafs to make.

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