Alexander Nikishin traded to the Maple Leafs for OEL in blockbuster proposal

One trade proposal online has the Maple Leafs adding RFA Alexander Nikishin in a trade that sends beloved veteran Oliver Ekman-Larsson and a 2028 first to Carolina.

With all the discussion about potential trades be it Dylan Larkin or Simon Edvinsson, the Maple Leafs seem to be a the forefront at least when it comes to the rumour mill. How close they are to actually pulling off moves is another question entirely, but as we've seen with the Matthew Knies trade; triggers can be pulled.

Reports came out recently as well that showed the team wanted to improve their blue line, not only now but for the future and the topic of acquiring Edvinsson has been a hot topic for the past few days.

Maple Leafs and Hurricanes create a whirlwind with Nikishin for OEL swap

But there's another defender who could make a statement for the Maple Leafs and solidify their back end for years to come - and a new proposal shows just how Toronto can get him.

A trade idea floating around online has the Maple Leafs acquiring Alexander Nikishin from the Carolina Hurricanes for a package centred around both veteran defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, but their coveted 2028 first-round pick acquired from Colorado:

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In addition to OEL and the draft pick, Toronto would certainly need to add in some minor prospects as well and the likes of Noah Chadwick, Jacob Quillan, Harry Nansi, Miroslav Holinka or Brendan Brisson could all be in play as well.

Is that too much of a price to pay? Given that OEL is getting older and costs a decent chunk of change you could argue that getting younger even at the more expensive rate is the better option.

Acquiring Nikishin is good on paper, but losing OEL hurts the locker room

But Toronto has also benefitted heavily from the underrated defensive game of Ekman-Larsson - someone who has an incredible level of poise, experience, and effectiveness. One of the game's best defensive stick-checkers, he would be hard to replace on the third pair especially since his defence is so good albeit not his strength.

In addition to that, he is one of the most beloved and respected locker room leaders and losing out on him would be a genuine disservice to his teammates. Ekman-Larsson is someone who brings an edge of seriousness on the ice with levity off it. He's approachable, he's a great mentor, and the ultimate team player.

And you'd also never expect him to only miss nine games over the last two seasons, as he's proven that any questions about his longevity can be put to rest. He may not have a point yet this year, but he's been a defensive and physical machine.

Nikishin would be a fantastic asset for years to come, and someone who could thrive and grow alongside prospects like Ben Danford, and later on Ethan MacKenzie and Alexander Bilecki. But he's a bit of a question mark as to whether he's truly the next star blue-liner.

Giving up a trusted and valuable member of the roster is a tough sell but as John Chayka has stated over and over - you've gotta trade quality to get quality.

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Red Wings reveal their Simon Edvinsson asking price to the Maple Leafs