Maple Leafs Hold the Perfect Pieces to Land Rust and Rakell as New Price Revealed
Photo credit: Hockey Patrol
According to Josh Yohe of The Athletic, Kyle Dubas specifically wants young players for Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust, but age is a factor, but Toronto has exactly what he needs; at a big cost.
There's been a lot of reports about Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins regarding who they might trade in order to make sure they are in a prime position to draft Gavin McKenna; that is being in the basement of the league.
Kyle Dubas Lays Out Game Plan For Rust and Rakell Trade: Get Younger
Several of their veterans have been named but the two who have had the most noise are Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell. The Maple Leafs have been attached to them heavily, but nothing has materialized as of yet; though things might pick up soon.
For The Athletic's Josh Yohe, he explained that Kyle Dubas is only willing to part with either player but only if he's able to bring a lot of youth back, and more specifically looking for anyone in their early 20's:
I wonder what you can get in return; Kyle Dubas wants NHL ready players more than anything; what he wants are 22 year old guys that can play right now.
So if it's NHL-ready youngsters he wants, then the Maple Leafs can give him exactly what he wants.
The Penguins' Price Matches Assets the Maple Leafs Already Have; Deal Within Reach?
There's no one who is exactly 22 on the dot who would be traded, but there are a couple of players a year or two older who could fit in perfectly. Nick Robertson is 23, needing a fresh start, and could feasibly fit into the Penguins' top-six as they tank.
There's also Dennis Hildeby at 23, and with Pittsburgh's future goaltending situation murky, he has NHL experience and could definitely hold his own while not affecting their standing too much.
Then you can add William Villeneuve, a player who is seriously on the cusp of making the NHL but has a logjam with the Maple Leafs defensive core right now and might not get a true look; and if Pittsburgh dumps Erik Karlsson at least he can play some offense on the back end.
It depends who Toronto wants to go after, and there might be a little bit of an easier path to get Rakell given how vital Rust is to the identity of the team and it may be harder to move on give the potential fan reaction.
Rakell would give Toronto's top-six that secondary scoring power forward they need, and would fit seamlessly with John Tavares and William Nylander on the second line (and it also helps he's a fellow Swede).
In 81 games for the Penguins last season, he added 70 points (35 goals, 35 assists), 77 blocks and 116 hits; he was a jack of all trades for Pittsburgh and was a bright spot in an otherwise middling season.
It might be considered a overpayment to give up Robertson (who just re-signed), as well as Hildeby (who could be a future starter) and Villeneuve (who would help Toronto's offensive woes on D) but this team is built to win now.
Pittsburgh wants a bright future, so Brad Treliving should give it to them. All he asks is one of their veteran pieces in return.
That's not too much, right?
| POLL | ||
15 HOURS AGO | 495 ANSWERS Maple Leafs Hold the Perfect Pieces to Land Rust and Rakell as New Price Revealed Who do you think Toronto should target? Bryan Rust or Rickard Rakell? | ||
TRENDING NOW
