Maple Leafs Division Rival Reportedly Makes Offer for Star Right-Handed Defenseman
Photo credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images
The Detroit Red Wings have reportedly fielded an offer for New York's Noah Dobson, a player the Leafs have been targeting to add to their blueline, and look to try and outbid their division rivals.
As news broke that the New York Islanders were listening in on some offers for right-handed RFA defenseman Noah Dobson, there was a chance the Toronto Maple Leafs might be able to field an offer big enough to snag him away and bring in the offensive blueliner they've desperately searched for.
However some news out of New York shows that they aren't the only teams looking to bring in Dobson, and it turns out it's a divisional rival: The Detroit Red Wings.
Red Wings offer Compher, Berggren, draft picks for Dobson
Thanks to a report from The Hockey News' Stefen Rosner, going off a Bob Duff article, mentioned that the Red Wings are high on Dobson and have currently fielded an offer for the defender.
According to published reports, the Wings are showing interest in Dobson.
Russian website Sport Express is reporting that a pair of Detroit forwards, JT Compher and Jonathan Berggren, are part of the package being offered to the Isles. Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman may also be willing to part with draft picks to make this deal happen. - Bob Duff
Russian website Sport Express is reporting that a pair of Detroit forwards, JT Compher and Jonathan Berggren, are part of the package being offered to the Isles. Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman may also be willing to part with draft picks to make this deal happen. - Bob Duff
It's at least a respectable offer, and would certainly help the Islanders shore up their bottom-six.
Dobson, 25, already has a 70-point season under his belt, and though he struggled this season (39 points in 71 games) he's more than capable of hitting 50-60 points yearly.
He put together 24 points in 76 games as well (12G, 12A) and is a restricted free agent.
However, Rosner updated with the fact that there is no real verification this deal was offered.
With that being said however, if Toronto were to make a move for Dobson, what could they do?
What can Toronto offer for Noah Dobson?
If the Islanders are truly going to pass on Dobson in favor of Alexander Romanov, then the Maple Leafs need to be in on that from the get go.
Seeing Detroit offer two third-liners and some draft capital is a good starting point in determining what the Maple Leafs could offer.
If they wanted to mimic the route Detroit took, they could offer Max Domi (a veteran with more offensive upside than Compher) and Nick Robertson (a young player with a ton of potential much like Berggren).
Toronto doesn't own a first rounder so that makes things tougher as Detroit could potentially dangle their 13th overall pick. But they might be able to sweeten the pot with a lower-end prospect and a 3rd or 4th rounder.
New York wants a change too, so give them one. Throw in Alex Steeves; a player who has dominated the AHL and hasn't found a spot yet on the Maple Leafs and would be a perfect third/fourth line complement for the Islanders.
So here's how the trade might go down:
To Toronto:
(D) Noah Dobson
To New York Islanders:
(F) Max Domi
(F) Nick Robertson
(F) Alex Steeves
2026 3rd-Round Pick
(F) Nick Robertson
(F) Alex Steeves
2026 3rd-Round Pick
Is that too much of an overpayment? For a team looking for a serious identity change, not really. Getting out from under Domi, the polarizing Robertson, and bringing in Morgan Rielly's successor? An extremely good deal.
That basically gives New York a brand new third line, draft capital, and allows the Maple Leafs to enact their own identity change and bringing in the pieces that work within Craig Berube's system.
It's a win-win for both teams, and gives both of them what they want. What more can you ask for?
| POLL | ||
JUIN 22 | 581 ANSWERS Maple Leafs Division Rival Reportedly Makes Offer for Star Right-Handed Defenseman Do you think the Maple Leafs can outbid the Detroit Red Wings to acquire New York's Noah Dobson? | ||
| Yes | 309 | 53.2 % |
| No | 272 | 46.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
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