Maple Leafs searching for another playmaker for Auston Matthews as limited options emerge
Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
According to TSN's Darren Dreger, the Toronto Maple Leafs are trying to find someone who can elevate Auston Matthews but their options on the market are slim.
There's a genuine concern about Auston Matthews' production as of late, and while he has shown flashes of his old self, it isn't consistent enough and he's looking more like a very good player; not an elite one.
A lot of people point to Mitch Marner's departure as the main cause, however the Vegas forward isn't doing too hot himself, and is on pace for some of the worst numbers in recent memory.
Whatever is driving Matthews' mediocrity needs to be figured out soon if the Maple Leafs want to have a shot at not only making the playoffs, but making a run and according to one source, they're trying to give him some help.
Toronto looking to make a deal even with lack of real assets
According to TSN's Darren Dreger in an Early Trading article, Toronto is trying to add a top-six forward, and potentially even more but the team may have some difficulties bringing in the playmaker Auston Matthews needs:
We know that Treliving would like to add another top-six forward, maybe two top-six forwards.
But based on what we saw between the Minnesota Wild and Vancouver Canucks, sure, logically, you can look at something like that and say 'big deals like this can happen,' but the Wild had the pieces to lure Quinn Hughes from Vancouver, and the Maple Leafs' cupboard is not as stocked.
That type of player, the type of playmaking player that Matthews needs on that line, isn't available. But as the season progresses, you can tell that the heat is going to elevate here.
But based on what we saw between the Minnesota Wild and Vancouver Canucks, sure, logically, you can look at something like that and say 'big deals like this can happen,' but the Wild had the pieces to lure Quinn Hughes from Vancouver, and the Maple Leafs' cupboard is not as stocked.
That type of player, the type of playmaking player that Matthews needs on that line, isn't available. But as the season progresses, you can tell that the heat is going to elevate here.
Dreger's right in saying that Toronto doesn't have much available in terms of trade assets, and if they want to really add some help they are going to need to get creative or end up biting the bullet on certain things.
Can Toronto actually add a top-six forward for Auston Matthews?
Anything is possible in the world of the NHL, and as we've seen with the Quinn Hughes deal, it's going to take a king's ransom to bring in anybody with substance to the roster.
They will need to get creative and start eliminating names they aren't going to factor into their plans. Matias Maccelli, maybe Max Domi, Philippe Myers, Calle Jarnkrok, and whoever else is on the fringe.
Going after someone like Andre Burakovsky or Tyler Bertuzzi from Chicago, Mason Marchment from Seattle, or Jonathan Marchessault from Nashville could be a feasible option that won't break the bank.
Toronto is going to need to trade a prospect/young gun and if they are going to be getting a top tier defender, Ben Danford needs to be saved for that.
But guys like Maccelli, Noah Chadwick, Borya Valis, and William Villeneuve are available and should be traded if it helps brings someone who can give the captain a chance to rebound.
Whatever Toronto does, they can't rush a deal and have to ensure that whoever comes in is going to give Matthews every chance to succeed because if they don't? This season overall won't be very successful either.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 18 | 2422 ANSWERS Maple Leafs searching for another playmaker for Auston Matthews as limited options emerge Will the Maple Leafs make a trade to help Auston Matthews this season? | ||
| Yes | 1167 | 48.2 % |
| No | 1255 | 51.8 % |
| List of polls | ||