Rumor: Leafs To Acquire Blue Jackets’ Captain, Nick Foligno

The Toronto Maple Leafs have been a dominant force in the North Division. They currently have the highest odds of winning the Stanley Cup and this season's division alignment provides a unique opportunity to make a deep playoff run. GM Kyle Dubas is making every effort he can to build a Stanley Cup team, including acquiring another team's captain.

Nick Foligno is a household name in the NHL. Toronto Sun columnist Steve Simmons has revealed that Foligno's name has been floating around the Leafs organization. You may know Simmonds for his recent publication comparing William Nylander to IKEA furniture that is impossible to assemble or his leak about Auston Matthews testing positive for Covid-19. Despite his controversial nature, his reports are back in the mainstream.

Here is where it gets dicey. The Leafs have next to no salary cap room. In order to acquire anyone - the name Nick Foligno keeps popping up - they would have to move other assets and money, certainly Alex Kerfoot for example, maybe of the the young defensemen Rasmus Sandin or Timothy Liljegren, maybe the young sniper Nick Robertson, maybe an early-round draft pick.

Foligno is the Captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets. His cap hit is $5.5 million per year and has 11 points in 26 games played this season. He offers veteran leadership and physicality, but Simmons’ lack of credibility doesn't seem to earn the benefit of the doubt. Foligno will be a UFA at the end of this season with no guarantee he will be back if the Leafs acquire him. There is essentially no realistic scenario where Dubas offers a young talent or an early draft pick for an aging player with minimal offensive talent. The Leafs would be fortunate to have him join their veteran group of Jason Spezza, Joe Thornton, Wayne Simmonds, Zach Bogosian, and T.J. Brodie, but not at the price Simmons is suggesting.