Trade Idea: Toronto Maple Leafs Move Alexander Kerfoot to Columbus

The Toronto Maple Leafs are going to lose a good player to the Seattle Kraken expansion draft and by all accounts it sounds like that player is going to be forward Alexander Kerfoot. While some feel the Leafs won't mind losing Kerfoot and his $3.5 million per season over the next two years, why not trade him instead? 

Trade Idea: Maple Leafs move Kerfoot, prospect Joey Anderson and a 2021 2nd-round pick to the Columbus Blue Jackets for 2021 1st-round pick (previously owned by Maple Leafs)

Not sure at this point how much the Blue Jackets feel like 'helping' the Maple Leafs, but this trade could make sense for numerous reasons. The Blue Jackets hold three first-round picks this draft, and obtained the Leafs pick via the Nick Foligno deal. In this move they acquire a center who can step into their top-2 lines, which is something the team is looking to address this offseason, and they end up with a second-rounder, something they don't currently have. Throw in a prospect like Anderson and the package could be intriguing. The team has the cap space to add Kerfoot's $3.5 million and he gives them a legit center to provide some depth down the middle. At only 26-years-old, he's a worthy 'gamble'.

For the Leafs, this deal gets them back into the first-round of the draft, something general manager Kyle Dubas loves. It allows for the Leafs to create some more salary cap flexibility moving forward and if they end up moving the pick for another proven NHLer, then so be it. They don't lose Kerfoot for nothing. The Leafs and Blue Jackets have been in contact lately over Seth Jones, so this dialogue could have easily included some 'expansion draft type deals' as well. 

Ideally the Leafs want the Kraken to select defenseman Travis Dermott. They have a ton of depth on the left-side of their defense, and the team is going to try and do whatever they can to protect defenseman Justin Holl. Side deals like this before the draft are going to make for an interesting July.