Maple Leafs Have One Major Trade Asset Left to Land a Top-Six Forward
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs don't have many assets if they want to make a deal for a top-six forward, however they do hold one interesting piece: Brandon Carlo.
The talk that has dominated the offseason thus far for the Toronto Maple Leafs is who they are going to potentially bring in as a replacement for Mitch Marner, though it's going to be hard to find someone who can give you 100+ points but I digress.
Minimal assets, a shrinking salary cap, and a sheepish market has led them to be unable to bring that piece aboard, not mention they can't even get a deal done for their expendable deals and time is seemingly running out; at least before the regular season.
What the Insider Reported About the Maple Leafs' Trade Options
However through what little they have stands a big piece that has been tossed around here and there in trade rumors: Brandon Carlo.
Acquired last season from the Boston Bruins as insurance for Morgan Rielly, he cost quite the hefty sum in Fraser Minten and a first-round pick and while he was solid, wasn't that stalwart defensive force Toronto truly needed.
But with a fresh season to look forward to he's going to be a stud, that is if he sticks around.
According to Maple Leafs analyst and NHL Insider James Mirtle, he believes Carlo is the perfect piece to bring in that forward, even though they brought him in only months ago:
The front office is still looking for that upgrade up front. I don't expect Matias Maccelli, Roy and Dakota Joshua to be it for forward adds, especially considering at least two of them should be in the bottom six.
And the biggest reasons Carlo could go the other way: Toronto doesn't have a lot else to trade and a huge RD has a lot of value for other teams.
The other thing is the Leafs have six pretty solid established NHL D right now in Chris Tanev, Jake McCabe, Morgan Rielly, Carlo, Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Simon Benoit. They'd like to somehow get another puck mover back there, which would mean moving one of the more defensive types out.
And the biggest reasons Carlo could go the other way: Toronto doesn't have a lot else to trade and a huge RD has a lot of value for other teams.
The other thing is the Leafs have six pretty solid established NHL D right now in Chris Tanev, Jake McCabe, Morgan Rielly, Carlo, Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Simon Benoit. They'd like to somehow get another puck mover back there, which would mean moving one of the more defensive types out.
With rumors that the Maple Leafs are potentially talking to free agent defenseman Matt Grzelcyk about coming in, that would solve their puck-moving issues and make Carlo therefore expendable.
Why Brandon Carlo's Value Stands Out in the Market
Toronto's really kind of dug themselves into a hole here. If they were to trade Carlo, they lose out on Rielly's partner and have to replace him by either breaking up the Tanev/McCabe pairing, or hope Simon Benoit figures out how to be a top-pairing defender.
It's why Carlo is so valuable. He's 6'5, 220 pounds, tough as nails, relentlessly aggressive and isn't afraid to let it fly from the point; the right side nonetheless.
He's also on a very team-friendly deal, earning $3.48-million for the next two seasons; something very enticing to teams with parts and cap to spare.
For contending teams he makes perfect sense because he gives you a top-four pairing defender for cheap with the playoff credentials to back it up.
For rebuilding teams, he's only 28 and on a very cheap deal all things considered, so for those teams shedding cap and looking to hoard money won't be spending much to acquire him; a win-win for them.
It remains to be seen what moves Brad Treliving decides to make, but he could certainly get one accomplished if it included Brandon Carlo.
Whether it's worth it or not is a completely different story.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 4 | 1383 ANSWERS Maple Leafs Have One Major Trade Asset Left to Land a Top-Six Forward Do you think it's smart for Toronto to trade Brandon Carlo for a top-six forward? | ||
| Yes | 492 | 35.6 % |
| No | 891 | 64.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
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