Reports show that if the Washington Capitals can't find room for Ivan Miroshnichenko in the lineup then he may be traded, and Toronto can't afford to miss out.
The discussion around the Maple Leafs and their ability to score has been a hotly debated one since the start of the season. Though they are getting a lot of help from their stars like Auston Matthews and William Nylander, they also aren't getting nearly as much help from the bottom-six.
In need of not only an injection of scoring, but also find a means to get faster and set themselves up for the future, the Maple Leafs are going to have a lot of work to do if they want to improve their bottom six scoring while also giving them a leg up going forward.
Washington could trade one of their most promising forwards
It's almost too perfect then that the team could have the chance to add a young forward who oozes scoring potential and currently has no avenue for a lineup spot: Ivan Miroshnichenko.
The Capitals forward is being pushed out of the Washington lineup after a slew of offseason moves made them have way too many forwards especially wingers. It also means that a trade could be on the horizon according to Elliotte Friedman:
Someone I talked to, when you don't play - get noticed. But that's his thing...there are a lot of people watching. He's a first-round pick, battled some health issues, really talented, and good enough to play in this league.
The reason he hasn't played is the Capitals are so deep and he got into this game only because Dubois was under the weather - but there are a lot of teams watching him and know he can play. If the Capitals can't find room, they have to waive him and they might not want to go that route.
Miroshnichenko, 22, has six goals and 14 points in 53 games for the Capitals since being drafted 20th overall in 2022, and while he has dealt with some injury concerns, he just hasn't been able to find a consistent spot even when healthy.
Toronto would be insane to pass up a chance to add Miroshnichenko
If there's no room for Miroshnichenko on the Capitals, then there's certainly a spot for him in Toronto even with the revamped lineup.
He would be a future replacement for Jack Roslovic after his contract expires, and could instantly improve the scoring potential of the middle-six. It would be a luxury to have him in the lineup as the team could move players down and still be safe.
Toronto could move Colton Sissons to the fourth line alongside Brandon Duhaime and Teddy Blueger to form an impenetrable trio of physical and defensive players and cement that line as the shutdown group.
That would allow Roslovic to work alongside Nick Paul and Gavin McKenna, which gives Miroshnichenko a spot alongside John Tavares and Easton Cowan on the second line:
Marchenko - Matthews - Nylander
Miroshnichenko - Tavares - Cowan
McKenna - Paul - Roslovic
Duhaime - Sissons - Blueger
That right there is a top-nine that has loads of scoring potential as well as the future of the team gaining early chemistry with McKenna, Cowan, Marchenko and Miroshnichenko working together a lot either at 5v5 or the power play.
Would adding Ivan Miroshnichenko guarantee that Toronto is getting a superstar? Not necessarily, but he hasn't had a chance to prove himself yet. He'd get a chance to in Toronto, and could be a focal point for years to come if John Chayka pulls the trigger.
Should the Maple Leafs put a trade offer to acquire Ivan Miroshnichenko from the Washington Capitals?
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