Maple Leafs Could Strike Deal with Kyle Dubas as Three Penguins Hit the Trade Market
Photo credit: NHL.com
The Toronto Maple Leafs could end up looking to old GM Kyle Dubas for some help this offseason as Pittsburgh tries to make some changes to their roster.
As the NHL offseason looks to really kick off in a couple of weeks, teams are preparing to make sure they have their priorities in order, and whether that be bringing in new faces, or sending out old ones; changes are going to be widespread.
For Toronto, their whole thing this offseason is changing the DNA and while there are several ways to do it, they might be pretty expensive. However, he might be able to give an old face a call and see if he's willing to strike a deal.
Pittsburgh open to trading top names: David Pagnotta
With the Penguins also looking to make some DNA changes this season, The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta reports that the team is willing to listen to offers for Erik Karlsson, Bryan Rust, and Rickard Rakell:
The Pittsburgh Penguins as well we touched on them looking to sell off some pieces outside of Erik Karlsson.
Teams are inquiring about Rickard Rakell, Bryan Rust; maybe LA re-engages with them not with Kenny Holland at the helm. - David Pagnotta
Teams are inquiring about Rickard Rakell, Bryan Rust; maybe LA re-engages with them not with Kenny Holland at the helm. - David Pagnotta
Would trying to make a deal with Dubas; a GM who is often quite polarized in Toronto, make sense?
Toronto should target Pittsburgh's trio of trade candidates
With the team wanting to add offense on their blueline, you can't get any better than one of the NHL's best offensive defensemen of all-time.
Karlsson, 35, has 870 points in 1,084 career games (200G, 670A) and even this past season had 53 points (11G, 42A), plus is only two seasons removed from a remarkable 101-point campaign.
No stranger to the Maple Leafs, the long-time Ottawa Senators blueliner is a very expensive option, making $11.5M for the next two seasons. If Toronto ends up getting heavy salary retention, or end up dumping Morgan Rielly's deal; it could end up working out.
Plus, with the team needing a true PP quarterback, Karlsson and his career 305 power play points will certainly help in that regard.
Rust, 33, is one of Pittsburgh's long-time players and alongside Sidney Crosby has been able to be one of the more effective offensive players over the years.
He has 437 points in 638 games (203G, 234A) and he's been a solid playoff contributor. He would fit perfectly on the second or third line, and would be a reliable improvement at $5.125M over the next three years, a deal that will get better over time.
Rakell, 32, really picked things up this season with a 35-goal campaign to go along with 35 assists for 70 points in 81 games.
He fits perfectly in the Craig Berube style of play, not being afraid to hit (369 over his last three seasons) while adding a very disciplined game; something Toronto needs help with.
Rakell makes $5M over the next three seasons but does come with an eight-team no-trade clause, so he might have the Leafs on his no-fly zone, making a trade a bit harder to accomplish.
Whether it's one or several of these players that entice Brad Treliving, he needs to be proactive and give Kyle Dubas a phone call to see how much he values change.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 15 | 573 ANSWERS Maple Leafs Could Strike Deal with Kyle Dubas as Three Penguins Hit the Trade Market Who should the Maple Leafs try and acquire from Pittsburgh? | ||
| Rickard Rakell | 82 | 14.3 % |
| Erik Karlsson | 83 | 14.5 % |
| Bryan Rust | 114 | 19.9 % |
| None of the Above | 294 | 51.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
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