Leafs on the Clock as Dubas Gears Up for Blockbuster in Pittsburgh
Photo credit: Pittsburgh Penguins
While nothing has come out of Steel City just yet, it looks like Kyle Dubas is gearing up for a huge trade according to The Athletic and the Maple Leafs need to be front and center to get a deal done.
A lot of discussion this offseason has centred around the Toronto Maple Leafs and whether or not they are going to pull the trigger on a deal to bring in a top-six forward or a better offensive defenseman and while nothing has happened yet, there's still time.
Pittsburgh and Kyle Dubas Ready to Rebuild: Insider
Another team that has a. lot of chatter surrounding them is the Pittsburgh Penguins as the team looks to potentially have a fire sale as they look to rebuild and hope for a chance at Gavin McKenna.
According to The Athletic's Josh Yohe, the Penguins are ready to sell and while it's not cheap, they clearly want to get rid of their veteran pieces:
Penguins president/general manager Kyle Dubas isn't selling Rakell and Rust for peanuts, nor is he married to the idea of keeping them for the long term.
Still, I keep going back to what several team sources have told me: Dubas wants to go young next season.
As July turns into August and training camp is less than seven weeks away, remember those words.
Things are quiet at the moment. However, as we all know, that can change. A big trade or two feels likely before training camp. Dubas hasn't received offers that meet his liking yet, but he is fully committed to a rebuild. That means that having 30-somethings like Rust, Rakell and Mantha in your lineup doesn't make much sense.
Still, I keep going back to what several team sources have told me: Dubas wants to go young next season.
As July turns into August and training camp is less than seven weeks away, remember those words.
Things are quiet at the moment. However, as we all know, that can change. A big trade or two feels likely before training camp. Dubas hasn't received offers that meet his liking yet, but he is fully committed to a rebuild. That means that having 30-somethings like Rust, Rakell and Mantha in your lineup doesn't make much sense.
So what if we killed two birds with one stone, and get Toronto the top-six player they need while making sure Pittsburgh gets younger?
Toronto Swaps Potential For Sure Thing
If that's the case, then the Maple Leafs should have no qualms about sending someone like Nick Robertson or Bobby McMann over to Pittsburgh plus someone like a William Villeneuve or Dennis Hildeby; players who make Pittsburgh's roster but who aren't game-changing enough to ruin their tank job.
Bringing in that name like a Rust or Rakell would solidify Toronto's top-six undoubtedly and gives them a chance to part with their other pieces a little easier via buyout potentially or a cap dump.
A top-six with either man gives Toronto a much deeper lineup throughout, plus alleviates the logjams the team has when it comes to forward, defense, and goaltending.
Here's how it might look:
Knies - Matthews - Rust/Rakell
Maccelli - Tavares - Nylander
Joshua - Roy - McMann
Lorentz - Laughton - Domi/Pezzetta
Again this is dependent on Toronto moving Kampf, Jarnkrok or even potentially Domi, but for arguments sake let's say they parted with Robertson, Hildeby, and their 2026 2nd-round pick.
Heck, Toronto could move Maccelli up to replace Marner and slide Rakell to the second line and give that group the power forward they have always needed.
Either way you slice it, the Maple Leafs have options and doing business with their old GM again might be the best way to accomplish their goals.
But it also helps Pittsburgh get one step closer to bringing in yet another generational talent: Does Toronto want to have a hand in that?
| POLL | ||
AOUT 1 | 1615 ANSWERS Leafs on the Clock as Dubas Gears Up for Blockbuster in Pittsburgh Do you think the Maple Leafs and Penguins are going to pull off a blockbuster? | ||
| Yes | 761 | 47.1 % |
| No | 854 | 52.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
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