With the Toronto Maple Leafs linked to Erik Karlsson, reporter Nick Alberga drafted a trade proposal that involves a franchise cornerstone.
Recently, Elliotte Friedman let it slip that he has heard from sources that the Toronto Maple Leafs could be a landing spot for Erik Karlsson thanks to the Daniel Alfredsson connection.
The Maple Leafs blue line is already old, and adding Karlsson would only accentuate that problem. However, there is this sense that he wants to join the team, and with the Leafs looking for some offense from their back end, he is a realistic option.
Leafs reporter Nick Alberga isn't super stoked about the idea, and he believes that if this is the route the Leafs go in, they are going to have to throw Morgan Rielly into any potential deal.
As Alberga explains, this is the only deal that makes sense, as it would be a one-for-one in which both teams get back something of similar value.
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That said, Alberga sees this as a purely desperate move. He also doesn't understand how this would work with Darren Raddysh leading the first power-play unit.
Simply put, this is a lateral move that does not elicit a ton of trust in the organization. If the Leafs do it, Alberga and others won't be satisfied.
How do the Maple Leafs solve their D problem?
The Maple Leafs are reportedly working on trades for the likes of Simon Edvinsson and Alexander Nikishin. Those are the correct targets, as they are younger players with a ton of upside.
They also have solid offensive games, which is something the Maple Leafs need. Ultimately, it would allow the Leafs to improve on two distinct fronts.
For now, fans are just going to have to be patient. There is no telling whether or not the Leafs are going to get any of these trade targets.
The fact remains that there plenty of options on the market that go beyond just an aging defenseman in Erik Karlsson.
Should the Toronto Maple Leafs make this trade?
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