Maple Leafs Eye $30 Million Forward, But 'Very High' Price Tag Creates Major Hurdle
Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs' search for top-six help has hit a snag according to NHL Insider Chris Johnston, with target Bryan Rust's price too expensive for Brad Treliving.
While the Maple Leafs continue to make some smaller deals, whether that be adding AHL depth through free agency, or trading a name like Ryan Reaves as a cap dump, they are still looking to make that one impact deal.
Linked to several prominent names like Nazem Kadri and Jared McCann, it seems that Brad Treliving has his fair share of options, although one name who would be a perfect compliment is Pittsburgh's Bryan Rust.
Bryan Rust almost too valuable for Toronto to acquire
A player who knows how to win, who has years of experience playing with one of the greatest ever in Sidney Crosby, Rust can bring a ton of offense and leadership to a team that's moving in a new direction sans Mitch Marner.
However, according to NHL Insider Chris Johnston, the price to pay for Rust might be too much for the Maple Leafs at the end of the day.
On Monday's edition of The CJ Show, Johnston explained that Rust's consistent play and history with Crosby is going to drive up his price substantially:
Rust is a really interesting player. I mean, he was a big part of those 2016 and 2017 Cup wins.
That would be an even more emotional type of trade, I would say, for the Penguins, just because he's been around so long, he's been a linemate quite often of Sidney Crosby's, and he's been a consistent player.
You look at his production, and he's giving you 20-plus goals every year - year, after year, after year - and knows what it takes to play a winning brand of hockey.
So, the price on him, I know, is especially high.
That would be an even more emotional type of trade, I would say, for the Penguins, just because he's been around so long, he's been a linemate quite often of Sidney Crosby's, and he's been a consistent player.
You look at his production, and he's giving you 20-plus goals every year - year, after year, after year - and knows what it takes to play a winning brand of hockey.
So, the price on him, I know, is especially high.
Adding Rust, who has six straight 20+ goal seasons (including a career-high 31 in 2024-25), two Stanley Cups, an incredibly accurate shot, and on a very reasonable $5.13-million deal is going to be quite expensive, so can Toronto do it?
Toronto needs to load up and give Kyle Dubas plenty of assets
It might seem a bit ridiculous to just give former GM Kyle Dubas a load of assets back, but given that the team is going in a different direction, and may be without Evgeni Malkin after this season; things are different in Steeltown.
With that being said, Toronto needs to exploit their strengths and give Dubas some help with his weaknesses; goaltending especially.
The Leafs are loaded, and while there are questions about if Anthony Stolarz is getting an extension, they are firmly behind Joseph Woll. That means Dennis Hildeby is expendable (especially with Artur Akhtyamov in tow), and we know Dubas likes him; he drafted him after all.
But it won't stop there, as Toronto will have to give them a couple of other names, and two would could be in play are Nick Robertson and William Villeneuve.
Robertson, 23, would give Dubas a young, NHL-ready forward who can slide into the top-nine and potentially find his offensive spark next to a Crosby or Malkin. Plus, he's much cheaper and will have his rights held for a bit so Dubas can gauge his output accordingly.
Villeneuve would give the Penguins a very savvy and intriguing two-way defenseman with a ton of potential.
The Maple Leafs just acquired Henry Thrun, and with a player who has NHL experience already at 24; they may prefer him over Villeneuve in the future.
With Robertson electing arbitration, he's looking to maximize his money based on hype, so the team needs to sell him on it.
A potential deal could look like this:
The Maple Leafs just sneak under the cap with a couple more moves on the horizon, and Pittsburgh gets a chance to add two intriguing young players with loads of potential, plus another draft asset.
It's not going to be easy, and it may seem like an overpayment for some. But Kyle Dubas has helped his former team in the past, and he might just be privy to doing it one more time.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 11 | 3567 ANSWERS Maple Leafs Eye $30 Million Forward, But 'Very High' Price Tag Creates Major Hurdle Do you think Toronto can still pull off a trade for Bryan Rust? | ||
| Yes | 1518 | 42.6 % |
| No | 2049 | 57.4 % |
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