Trade proposal emerges bringing in a top-4 defenseman for Calle Jarnkrok

The Toronto Maple Leafs are constantly seeking ways to improve their roster in order to end their Stanley Cup drought. One potential move to address their current needs is trading Calle Jarnkrok and a 4th-round pick to the Seattle Kraken in exchange for defenseman Adam Larsson. This trade could be mutually beneficial and help the Leafs bolster their defense.

The Leafs have a strong offensive lineup with their "core four", but their defensive depth has been a recurring concern, especially in the playoffs. Adam Larsson is a proven, shutdown defenseman who is extremely physical, so the Leafs would greatly benefit from his abilities.

Adam Larsson is known to block shots, win battles along the boards, and really punishes his opponents, therefore he would bring much-needed stability to Toronto's blue line. His experience and defensive reliability could be the key to balancing the Leafs' offensive powerhouse with a more shut-down style back end.

Calle Jarnkrok is a versatile forward who can play multiple positions, making him a valuable asset for any team. However, the Leafs already have a very good and deep forward group, particularly in the top nine, where Jarnkrok's skill is very similar to other players on the team. While Jarnkrok has done well since joining the Leafs, he is seen as replaceable, especially when considering the team's urgent need for a solid defenseman. Trading him now before his value drops could provide the Leafs with an opportunity to acquire Adam Larsson before it's too late.

Both Calle Jarnkrok and Adam Larsson have similar cap hits, with Jarnkrok's salary coming in at $2.1 million and Larsson's at $4 million per year. Considering Toronto's tight salary cap situation, it may appear challenging to take on Larsson's salary by simply trading Jarnkrok, however, with a few other tweaks in the roster, such as potentially involving a third team or having Seattle retain some of Larsson's salary, this deal could be possible. The increase in Larsson's cap hit would be justified by the huge upgrade he brings to the Leafs' defense. Perhaps the Leafs take a look at trading disgruntled forward Nick Robertson for draft picks in order to further save cap space to take on Adam Larsson.

Adam Larsson was drafted in the first round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft by the New Jersey Devils. In his most recent season with the Seattle Kraken, he scored four goals and had 14 assists for 18 points in 81 games.

Calle Jarnkrok was a second-round, 51st overall pick by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2010 NHL draft and is coming off a decent season with the Leafs, having played in 52 games and scoring 10 goals for 21 points.

Source: HockeyDB
Calle Jarnkrok Stats

Source: NHL.com
Adam Larsson Stats