Maple Leafs Among Teams Under Intense Pressure to Add Game-Changing Player, per Nick Kypreos
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According to NHL analyst Nick Kypreos, the Maple Leafs are one of a few teams who are under immense pressure to make a move to improve before the season opens up.
Given that the NHL offseason has hit a bit of a lull in terms of big deals and free agent signings, the time for speculation and rumors are peaking.
Toronto one of four teams who need to add impact player
Several big names have been thrown around in trade talks and even one deal could change the landscape of the league, though there are some teams who are a bit more desperate to make a deal.
According to Sportsnet analyst and former Maple Leaf Nick Kypreos, who published his updated Summer Trade Board this week, there are a few teams who rank above the rest who are in need of that big impact player:
As I see it, the teams that are under the most intense pressure to add a game-changing player include Edmonton, Toronto, Colorado and Los Angeles.
The second tier that doesn't necessarily have the same urgency, but could use a trade jolt, include Washington, Montreal, Ottawa, New Jersey and Dallas.
The second tier that doesn't necessarily have the same urgency, but could use a trade jolt, include Washington, Montreal, Ottawa, New Jersey and Dallas.
Of the four teams Kypreos mentioned, it seems the Maple Leafs are the one team who could use that punch the most.
Why Toronto needs an impact player over other teams
Yes, Edmonton lost a couple names in Evander Kane and Connor Brown, but they still have arguably the two best players in the world with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisatl.
Colorado is going to benefit from a full season from Gabriel Landeskog now, they still have Nathan MacKinnon, and they still get the luxury of Jack Drury, Martin Necas, Valeri Nichushkin and Cale Makar.
Los Angeles still has some star power with Adrian Kempe, Quinton Byfield, Kevin Fiala, Alex Laferriere, Anze Kopitar leading the charge.
Toronto however lost 100-point producer in Mitch Marner, and while they have Auston Matthews, and William Nylander, they are relying on a 35-year old John Tavares and hoping Matthew Knies is the real deal.
They are also under the most pressure, considering that Edmonton is a perennial Finals candidate, while Colorado and LA both have a much smaller spotlight.
Toronto is under the microscope already, and if they are unable to bring in a top-six forward or a premium defenseman, then the offseason might not be as successful as we first thought.
They're in win-now mode, so they should probably make a move that reflects that.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 17 | 1487 ANSWERS Maple Leafs Among Teams Under Intense Pressure to Add Game-Changing Player, per Nick Kypreos Do you think the Maple Leafs will add a top-six forward before the start of the season? | ||
| Yes | 981 | 66 % |
| No | 506 | 34 % |
| List of polls | ||
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