Rasmus Sandin will get his opportunity to contribute as injuries to defence pile up, but Leafs GM Kyle Dubas still needs some outside help.
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I have no doubt the Leafs GM would have great interest in Erik Karlsson, whose skill level matches well with the talent of Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews and William Nylander.
Karlsson checks all the boxes the front office has sought the moment Dubas took over. The GM never cared whether a defenceman was five-foot-nine or six-foot-four. His mandate was: “Get me skill, skill and more skill.” If that remains his priority, Karlsson would be the guy.
That said, there have been way too many issues to even think about this getting serious. Karlsson’s age, health concerns and the $50 million (U.S.) and remaining five seasons on his contract are just starters. Even if Dubas miraculously found the assets to get it done, I don’t think MLSE or Brendan Shanahan would approve this deal.
For my money, and I am going to say it again, the best answer would be Jakob Chychrun of the Arizona Coyotes. This is a deal Dubas had great interest in right from the start and that hasn’t wavered. Chychrun’s cost certainty remains super attractive at $4.6 million annually for three more years and Dubas remains in contact with Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong.
The problem, however, is Dubas has competition. There are believed to be six clubs sniffing out a deal, and four of the more serious contenders boast a wider selection of prospects than the Leafs.
A few others who would fit the bill:
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Dante Fabbro in Nashville. He’s a name many aren’t talking about. The 24-year-old still has plenty of upside at both ends of the ice and he will be a restricted free agent at the end of season. Word is Nashville GM David Poile wants to move a defenceman and is willing to part ways with the right-handed shot at the right price.
This one could cost Dubas prospect winger Matthew Knies.
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Blue Jackets’ Vladislav Gavrikov. The pending unrestricted free agent is a top shut-down guy and his price will grow much like David Savard’s did last year when the Lightning surrendered a first-, second- and fourth-round pick in the three-team trade with Montreal and Detroit.
This will cost you a first-round pick and more.
If the Leafs don’t want to make a big splash just yet they can also buy time with smaller-type deals.
Carson Soucy in Seattle won’t excite season-ticket holders but neither did Ilya Lyubushkin last February and that turned out to be rather valuable down the stretch for Toronto. He will be slightly more expensive than “The Bush” but could be worth keeping to replace Muzzin after this season, if the veteran chooses to retire.
Then there’s Luke Schenn. The Leafs’ fifth-overall pick from the 2008 draft could cost Dubas a third- or fourth-round pick to bring him back for another stint in Toronto and would at least help provide a presense that a softer Timmins doesn’t provide. He’s not the answer to the Leafs’ playoff woes but would be a very cheap substitute for Lyubushkin.
A long shot on the pending UFA market who’s not worth re-signing: Anaheim’s John Klingberg. Even though a rental isn’t Dubas’s goal, the Leafs are enquiring. The 30-year-old longtime Dallas Star is not a Grade A horse like Hampus Lindholm for Boston last season but Ducks GM Pat Verbeek will try and drive this price up by the deadline.
Anaheim has no interest in Nick Robertson so finding another prospect could get expensive if a first rounder isn’t enough.
Klingberg would be strictly a rental though. Toronto has no interest in a long-term deal here and the Swede’s overzealous pricetag is the reason he’s no longer in Dallas.
Matt Dumba? See Klingberg. There’s lots of talk of Dumba wanted a contract extension with a salary in the $8 million range. It’s too much money for a soon-to-be 29-year-old who’s managed 13 points in 43 career playoff games.
No question this list will continue to grow. The idea of window shopping at this time of the year is to get you in a festive mood for the holidays. Or at least that’s what other general managers will remind Dubas as they await his call.
