Maple Leafs Rumors: 3 Players Linked to Trades to Toronto
The Toronto Maple Leafs are trying to upgrade their roster to try and finally make some noise in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. General manager Kyle Dubas has been scouting hard and working the phones like mad, trying to find a trade partner who is willing to wheel and deal without asking for Toronto's top prospect Matthew Knies. Look for the Maple Leafs to try and hold onto their 2023 first-round pick as well, but it's likely they'll need to include it in a trade if their landing one of these three players who have recently been linked to a trade:
Timo Meier, San Jose Sharks
The Maple Leafs have talked about adding Timo Meier internally and they've discussed several different trade scenarios who also include the chance of moving Meier instead of re-signing him in the summer. End of the day they just care about this season and ensuring they have the best chance to win the Stanley Cup. Adding Meier's physical presence and scoring touch could help balance out the Leafs top-two lines and he could be the exact piece their missing to make a big run.
Jakob Chychrun, Arizona Coyotes
The Maple Leafs love Chychrun, they just don't love the Coyotes asking price. They want Knies who is from the area and Dubas isn't budging. Arizona is standing pat on their ask of at least one future first-round pick, one recently selected first-round pick and a prospect. Toronto would likely prefer to deal top defensive prospect Topi Niemela, a first-round pick in 2023 and a current roster player like Pierre Engvall, Alex Kerfoot or Pontus Holmberg. We'll see if talks advance these next few weeks as these two teams have a history of making trades together.
Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks
Hockey insider Frank Seravalli recently linked the Blackhawks legend to the Maple Leafs. End of the day, it's Kane's decision as he holds all the cards with his no-movement clause. Toronto is certainly going to be interested and present themselves a very good chance in the sweepstakes. Dubas has done business with the Blackhawks recently and the working relationship with Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson is very strong. Kane's numbers may be a bit down this season, but he's still a game changer and has the Stanley Cup Playoff experience the Maple Leafs could use more of. Watching him alongside Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews would be scary and it would help move Michael Bunting down to the second line where he's better suited and Calle Jarnkrok down to the third line. Kane to the Maple Leafs is warming up.
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
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