Elias Pettersson for Rielly and Robertson is the trade that fixes the Maple Leafs lineup
Photo credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Adding Elias Pettersson from the Canucks would solve Toronto's lack of a two-way force up front and all it could cost them is Morgan Rielly and Nick Robertson.
With the Toronto Maple Leafs needing to add a 2C to replace John Tavares and give him a bit less responsibility, there's a few names who could be called upon to replace him with Seattle's Shane Wright being a great option and someone who needs a change of scenery.
But there's also a team who may be looking to make some big moves this summer that may be able to give Toronto exactly what they need: Vancouver.
The Canucks are in a rough spot considering they didn't win the draft lottery and there are still several changes to be made even if they've already fired their GM, traded Quinn Hughes, and had their President just step down.
Pettersson is the exact centre needed to complement Matthews and Nylander while also replacing Tavares
Things aren't easy in BC right now, and for Elias Pettersson - someone who has been subjected to heavy trade speculation for the past couple of seasons, he may want a way out. Struggling the past two seasons, there's still a world where he's an 85-90 point player; he's proven as such.
But with the dumpster fire that has been the Canucks for the past few years, Pettersson may feel like it's best to get out before it's too late. If he's willing to waive his trade protection then the Maple Leafs need to be a team on that sooner than later.
Pettersson is still going to be a fairly expensive piece to acquire, and he does have a massive $11.6-million cap until 2032. He's locked up; that's good. He's also more than William Nylander; that's bad. But Toronto does have some pieces Vancouver may be privy to swapping Pettersson for.
Rielly holds a NMC but could be more than happy to waive it as long as he's going back home
Morgan Rielly is also a player needing a change of scenery and knowing that he would prefer to play closer to home if he was to be traded, it makes perfect sense to send him right there. He's still going to be cheaper than Pettersson by a fair margin, and the team lacks a true veteran presence.
The oldest member of the defensive corps right now is Derek Forbert at 34; but he's a UFA. Then it's Marcus Pettersson at 30, and Filip Hronek at 28. Otherwise it's a very young group that needs a 13-year veteran like Rielly.
He doesn't need to be the #1 for them, but a supplementary role would give him a fresh start and allow the Canucks to have a trusted leader who may actually surprise them.
On top of that, sending Nick Robertson along with him would open up more cap space for the team, give Robertson a fresh start and almost guaranteed top-six spot then it might be what he needs to reach that next level. He's going to want more money but Toronto already has more than enough pieces to replace him with.
Throw in a mid-round pick and take all of Pettersson's salary and you have yourself a deal. It would give Toronto a great 2C for years and someone who could reach his previous heights especially with much more talent beside him:
Knies - Matthews - McKenna
Cowan - Pettersson - Nylander
Joshua - Tavares - Maccelli
Lorentz - Haymes/Quillan - Domi
Cowan - Pettersson - Nylander
Joshua - Tavares - Maccelli
Lorentz - Haymes/Quillan - Domi
That top-nine gives you a wild balance of offence and defence while also giving Tavares less responsibility, and he can still hold his own defensively so long as he has a coach who implements him properly, plus he has a huge body to protect him in Joshua.
The Swedish connection of Nylander and Pettersson could be something magical and we all know what Matthews and McKenna can do together; it's a team that suddenly becomes very competitive (so long as the defensive side improves too).
But Pettersson in Toronto makes a lot of sense for both the Maple Leafs and Canucks, giving them both exactly what they need going forward.
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