Brad Treliving could have a new opportunity on the trade market after recent report
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving may have been presented with a golden chance to acquire a piece or two according to a new report from Frank Seravalli.
It's no secret that the Toronto Maple Leafs and GM Brad Treliving want to improve the roster at some point this season. Whether that's now or at the trade deadline, the team is looking for a few different pieces to complete their lineup.
However things are not going to come cheap regardless of who they go after, and if they want to make a serious change either on their blueline or up front then that price is only going to jump the higher the demand gets.
Toronto may have a trade partner in Blackhawks
Though if Treliving and company want to make a change to their backend while also making a change up front, then they could be in luck.
According to a new report from Frank Seravalli, the Chicago Blackhawks might end up being buyers rather than sellers this season, however they could dangle one of their veteran defenseman to do so.
Seravalli noted on Insider Notebook that Connor Murphy may be the only Blackhawk on the market right now, and that the team would like to add as opposed to subtract:
If anything, I could see the Blackhawks not deleting much outside of Connor Murphy, potentially, on the backend, but adding; I'm not talking about a big significant splash; I could see the 'Hawks try to bolster their lineup.
Now while that's a little disheartening for the Maple Leafs considering names like Andre Burakovsky, Louis Crevier and Tyler Bertuzzi could all have been in play and helped Toronto but at the end of the day; Murphy's not a bad add.
Why Connor Murphy makes sense for the Maple Leafs
Murphy, 32, has only five points in 39 games this season but he's not an offensive-style player. What he is known for is bring big, physical, and defensively sound. He would be a great stop-gap while Chris Tanev is hurt, and the team can then rest Philippe Myers/Simon Benoit when needed.
For his career, he has 165 points in 784 games (43 goals, 122 assists) but has 1,529 blocks and 1,612 hits; averaging over 100 of each per season.
This is the type of move that won't break the bank either, as Toronto could end up trading Matias Maccelli if they feel he still doesn't fit in the lineup, or could end up giving Chicago a couple of mid-range draft picks to get it done.
That protects Toronto from losing their top pick and prospects, and it gives them a great insurance policy who will help the injury-prone Maple Leafs defensive corps.
So while it's not the flashiest trade, or the blockbuster that fans may think is going to happen, it's a move that will help stabilize the team which is exactly what they need to keep in the playoff hunt.
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 2 | 1123 ANSWERS Brad Treliving could have a new opportunity on the trade market after recent report Should Toronto make a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks? | ||
| Yes | 525 | 46.7 % |
| No | 598 | 53.3 % |
| List of polls | ||