Maple Leafs Urged to Pursue 23-Year-Old Scorer Listed on Insider's Top Trade Targets
Photo credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
If the Maple Leafs wanted to add some big time scoring, they could look at a divisional rival for some help and bring in a young top-six forward.
While the NHL free agency is expected to be a huge benefit for the Maple Leafs, given the type of talent they can sign, so too could the trade market.
There are cap dumps they can make, they can trade off big deals like Max Domi to create some more space, or they can try to make a splash by acquiring a division rival's top young forward.
JJ Peterka Available For Trade: Frank Seravalli
NHL Insider Frank Seravalli recently published an article regarding the Top 20 Trade Targets for this summer, and among the names JJ Peterka from the Sabres tops the list.
Seravalli notes that Peterka may be the biggest fish in the trade pond this summer, given his massive potential:
There may be no better player available, period, on the trade market this summer - let alone one of Peterka's age at 23, already a top-line producer.
Embattled Sabres GM Kevyn Adams has said publicly that he has no designs on trading Peterka, but the sense is a change of scenery is in order.
Multiple teams put together significant offers for Peterka in the days leading up to the March deadline, but Buffalo was not biting then.
They may have less choice now with a potential offer sheet waiting on the other end of July 1.
Embattled Sabres GM Kevyn Adams has said publicly that he has no designs on trading Peterka, but the sense is a change of scenery is in order.
Multiple teams put together significant offers for Peterka in the days leading up to the March deadline, but Buffalo was not biting then.
They may have less choice now with a potential offer sheet waiting on the other end of July 1.
We don't know the types of offers Buffalo received, but if they weren't biting then it's hard to imagine what it would take now.
But desperation can cause a lot of strange happenings, and just like Toronto with Matthew Knies, the potential for a huge offer sheet given to Peterka rises every day.
He could very well receive an extension of eight years, but in terms of money it wouldn't be too out of the realm of possibility he makes $5.5-6M per season, which is a huge commitment especially with re-signing Knies on the table still.
But should the Maple Leafs do their best to acquire one of Buffalo's best players?
JJ Peterka Would Give Toronto A Potential Marner Replacement
Considering Peterka is only 23, coming off a blistering 68-point season (27G, 41A) and over 15% shot percentage and barely scratching the surface?
You best believe they should.
He's nearly identical to Marner in terms of size, and while he is a much better defender, Peterka has a few years to grow and learn defensively (especially in Craig Berube's system) and become as good as Marner.
Not afraid to get dirty, Peterka plays gritty but smart. He's a speed demon though he won't blow you away. His engine keeps chugging though, and it's hard to deplete his stamina at times.
Talking about speed, he has a fast and hard shot too; something Toronto lacked with Marner it feels like. He's not afraid to shoot, and ranked in the 99th percentile for shots averaging 70-80mph, and he gets them off quickly too.
He'd immediately take over Marner's spot on the top line with Auston Matthews and a presumed re-signed Matthew Knies. That trio has a ton of energy, physicality, and more than enough offense to satiate fans.
There's a lot to love about Peterka, and he's going to be great with Buffalo but find very little success if they keep the pace they've been on.
A change of scenery up the highway could do him a lot of good, and make the Maple Leafs forget about losing Marner for nothing.
| POLL | ||
MAI 28 | 378 ANSWERS Maple Leafs Urged to Pursue 23-Year-Old Scorer Listed on Insider's Top Trade Targets Should Toronto try and acquire JJ Peterka from the Sabres? | ||
| Yes | 231 | 61.1 % |
| No | 147 | 38.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
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