4 Internal Options for Maple Leafs at Left Wing

With the Nick Robertson trade demand hovering over them as training camp nears, the Toronto Maple Leafs have an "issue" at left wing. We told you about a report earlier this week that the team is in the market for a left-winger, and that there are precious few available options on the free agent market.

With that in mind, Luke Fox of Sportsnet has weighed in on his three best internal options to be brought into the Leafs lineup to fill a need on the left flank, and we'll add a 4th.

Alex Steeves

The left-shot, undrafted 24-year-old doesn't have a lot of NHL experience under his belt (7 games with the Leafs over the past three seasons), but his AHL performance has been noteworthy during that time, with 69 goals over that span, and 154 points in 188 games with the Marlies. Robertson's impending hold-out (if it gets that far) could be Steeves' opening to get a real shot with the Leafs.

Alex Nylander

Leafs star William's younger brother, Alex Nylander was signed to an AHL contract with the Marlies earlier this month. He is actually a right-shot, but has played plenty of left-wing. Alex has the potential to be a sneaky good add in free agency, as he finished off last season with a strong 23-game stint with the Columbus Blue Jackets, notching 11 goals and 15 points. Is there a chance we see the brothers line up together?

Nikita Grebenkin

The 21-year-old KHL prospect was a 5th-round pick of the Leafs in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The opposite of Alex Nylander, he's a left-shot right winger but could obviously be utilized on left wing. As Fox notes, "the Russian is quite the long shot, but the organization is high on his potential".

He registered 19 goals and 41 points in 67 games with Magnitogorsk Metallurg, while helping them to the KHL title last season.

Easton Cowan

The other internal option, which we'll add here, would be the 19-year-old left-shot forwardwho exploded for 34 goals and 96 points in 54 OHL games this past season to win that league's Most Outstanding Player honours.

He also dominated in the OHL playoffs, with 34 points in 18 games leading the Knights to the championship, and adding the playoffs MVP to his trophy case.

It's not expected, however, that the Leafs will keep last year's first-rounder on the roster past a nine-game trial before burning that first year of his entry-level contract. Unless, of course, his training camp showing and potential 9-game trial makes him impossible to ignore.