The Toronto Maple Leafs should take a chance on a Norwegian forward Eskild Bakke-Olsen as he could fill their bottom-six for cheap and has ties to Tinus Luc Koblar.
The Maple Leafs have to find a two-way centre to take over the 4C position while also getting younger and faster. They have a few AHL names like Jacob Quillan and Luke Haymes who could step in, but they should look overseas and take a chance on a Norwegian player with ties to one of their best prospects in Tinus Luc Koblar.
With the success of Tinus Luc Koblar in the IIHF World Championships, not to mention Norway's overall stunning performance winning the bronze medal, it shows that the oft-forgotten Scandinavian country isn't too far behind when it comes to providing NHL talent.
Eskilde Bakke-Olsen has a great hockey name and even greater hockey potential
However there's another player who the Maple Leafs should target from Norway that could seriously improve their bottom-six on the cheap and provide a real dogfight for a spot in the lineup.
Eskild Bakke-Olsen is a 24-year old centre who has spent the last couple of seasons in the SHL with Linkoping. He's got a pure two-way game, is a very good playmaker, a big presence on the ice at 6-foot-2, 203 pounds, and has not had a negative plus minus in the regular season since 2017-18.
He got a lot of experience against NHL talent this season at the IIHF World Championships, with him scoring five points and showing an uncharacteristic minus-3, and that was off the back of a 32-point, plus-10 season in Sweden in 2025-26.
For the Maple Leafs needing to get better in the bottom-six and find some real defensive monsters, Bakke-Olsen fits right in. He's still young, but offers a well-rounded and mature game that can only improve. He won't be dedicated to the 4C either, as Toronto could very well slide him up and down depending on injuries.
Bakke-Olsen's signing isn't just about the on-ice ramifications
Toronto has to bring him along not only as a great option for the lineup but to be a mentor to Koblar when he comes in. It doesn't look like it'll be too long, so keeping Bakke-Olsen around for a few years on a bargain deal can only benefit everyone.
He's played with him before and he can mentor him after spending time in the NHL himself, giving the young centre much needed guidance while Koblar can take his lumps without feeling like he's lost on his journey.
He isn't going to cost you more than a couple million dollars per season, and it's not like you're bringing in a 31-year old veteran from overseas; he's barely hit his prime and has been a consistent two-way player wherever he's played.
It makes too much sense given that Bakke-Olsen can give Toronto everything they need. He solves their bottom-six centre issues, provides mentorship to one of their top prospects, and won't come at a huge cost.
That sounds like a home run for John Chayka, and he needs to make a long distance phone call very soon.
Do you think the Maple Leafs should try and sign more overseas players like Eskilde Bakke-Olsen?
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