Two Leafs Forwards Emerge as Prime Trade Chips Ahead of the Deadline
Photo credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images
Reports suggest Two Leafs forwards, Max Domi and David Kampf, may have become potential casualties as the team explores potential moves. Could Toronto be gearing up for a blockbuster trade?
With the Toronto Maple Leafs linked to potential costly options such as Brock Nelson of the New York Islanders (making $6M yearly), Ryan O'Reilly of the Nashville Predators ($4.5M), & Yanni Gourde of the Seattle Kraken ($5.16M) all reported as potential names.
With most of the names being linked to the Leafs involving a hefty contract number, Toronto will almost surely need to move at least one player making a decent amount to balance things out unless someone is placed on LTIR before the NHL trade deadline on March 7th, which hasn't happened yet.
A new report now indicates two players on the Toronto Maple Leafs that may be forced out via trade as the team looks to balance a competitive roster while staying under a tight salary cap.
Could these moves make or break the Leafs' playoff hopes?
Toronto Maple Leafs Players Max Domi and David Kampf Linked To Potential Exit
A new report links forwards Max Domi & David Kampf as two players who could be traded by the Toronto Maple Leafs to make salary work in a potential trade.
An article in 'The Daily Faceoff' makes an argument that both Kampf and Domi could be out for Toronto in order to add a stronger return at forward.
Domi lacks the defensive ability to drive a line as a center unless that line is sheltered, and those are minutes that the Leafs would rather their top six play from time to time to get their best scoring opportunities.
Since Domi has just three goals and 19 points in 45 games and really only produces when he plays in the top six, he's not providing the offense to compensate for his defensive inefficiencies.
For Kampf, it's the complete opposite. He's a steady defensive presence for the Leafs, and one of their most-used penalty killers, but he lacks the offensive upside you would hope for out of a true shutdown center. - Scott Maxwell/Daily Faceoff
Since Domi has just three goals and 19 points in 45 games and really only produces when he plays in the top six, he's not providing the offense to compensate for his defensive inefficiencies.
For Kampf, it's the complete opposite. He's a steady defensive presence for the Leafs, and one of their most-used penalty killers, but he lacks the offensive upside you would hope for out of a true shutdown center. - Scott Maxwell/Daily Faceoff
The argument is correct in that Domi & Kampf, both of whom are costly, would be potential targets for teams in a trade.
But also, Domi, as a top-six asset, may be a player the Leafs would rather keep than not. The team has signaled a focus to add talent, and a player like Domi would not be a player that fits that for Toronto, and they aren't looking to add by subtraction.
This season, Domi has 3 goals and 17 assists in 46 games while averaging 14:41 of ice time.
Kampf also would be a hard sell. Toronto lacks a solid defensive bottom-six option. Pontus Holmberg, Connor Dewar, and Ryan Reaves don't bring the same skillset or experience that Kampf brings to the table.
They may need to acquire one or gain a defensive forward in return to lessen the blow.
This season, Kampf has 3 goals and 4 assists in 41 games while averaging 12:36 of ice time.
Either way, the Toronto Maple Leafs will make a move most likely, and those two players are potential options to be moved out if it's something that can gain a top player in a trade market quickly having it's best targets swooped up.
Will the Leafs pull the trigger on a blockbuster deal, or will they risk standing pat as the market heats up? Stay tuned.
| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 7 | 836 ANSWERS Two Leafs Forwards Emerge as Prime Trade Chips Ahead of the Deadline Should the Toronto Maple Leafs trade Max Domi or David Kampf? | ||
| Yes | 419 | 50.1 % |
| No | 70 | 8.4 % |
| Yes Domi, No Kampf | 130 | 15.6 % |
| Yes Kampf, No Domi | 217 | 26 % |
| List of polls | ||