NHL Rumors: 5 Maple Leafs Listed as Trade Bait

The Toronto Maple Leafs find themselves in first place in the Atlantic Division, and appear to be a different and more complete team this season than in years past. But that doesn't mean that GM Brad Treliving isn't actively working the phone lines looking to add to this team for the stretch drive and the playoffs.

Most notably, a middle-six center is needed, and potentially another top-six defenseman.

To that end, Treliving will need to sacrifice something from the roster (and the salary cap) in order to fit in any new charges. Adam Proteau of The Hockey News lists five Leafs players who could be trade bait as the team looks to swing a deal before the trade deadline in two months' time.

Nick Robertson, F

This is probably the most notable name, as the sniper has the highest upside on this list, and is the player most likely to come back and bite the Buds if they deal him. After an extremely slow start to the season (1 goal in his first 19 games), Robertson has come around of late, and has five goals and nine points in his last 13 games. His TOI hasn't risen accordingly, however, and he's still sitting on just 12:09 of ice time per night.

You can bet there'll be some team out there that is willing to take a chance on the former second-rounder reaching his potential elsewhere. While moving on from his $875,000 cap hit won't help Toronto out tremendously from a financial perspective, he's likely to garner the best return of these five.

Conor Timmins, D

The 26-year-old has had a fairly regular role on the blueline, playing in 34 of the Leafs' 39 games. His cap hit is $1.1 million, and he becomes an RFA in the offseason. He seems to have been surpassed, however, by Philippe Myers on the depth chart (witness Myers' multi-year extension signed on Friday), so as Proteau notes, Timmins and his contract are expendable.

David Kampf, C

The first of two pivots on this list, his inability to make any kind of significant impact (two goals in the last five games notwithstanding — they were his first two markers of the season in 26 games), makes his $2.4-million cap hit for two more seasons after this one a huge overpay. It will unfortunately also make him difficult to deal.

Pontus Holmberg, C

When it comes to lack of offensive impact, Holmberg could say to Kampf, 'Hold my beer.' He also has just two goals and six points this season, in 32 games. His expiring $800,000 cap hit will be much easier to unload.

Ryan Reaves, F

The 37-year-old tough guy holds a $1.35-million cap hit through next season, and as Proteau suggests, "his time as a Leaf might be drawing to an end." Reaves' role certainly isn't to provide anything on the scoresheet, but even at that, his 8 points in his 75 games in Toronto are dismal, as is his ability to affect the game. If there's a team that values his toughness in a fourth-line role, the Leafs should jump at the chance to unload him.