In my opinion, the two biggest holes for this team right now are at C and RD, something that most pundits seem to be saying as well. The question is, who is available in those spots? I thought I'd throw a few of the options at centre out there at least. Who else am I missing?
Brock Nelson (
33 years old, 1 x $6M, 32 points in 49 games) is potentially available from the New York Islanders, although with them going on a six game winning streak, bringing them back within striking distance of a wild-card spot, there's some doubt as to whether they will be selling or not. In addition, Treliving has indicated that he would
prefer to add a player with term. Apparently
the asking price would be something a 1st round pick a mid-level prospect.
Ryan O'Reilly (
33 years old, 3 x $4.5M, 28 points in 45 games) has been proposed as a well the Leafs could go back to. It seems that the club would have liked to re-sign O'Reilly following the 2023 playoffs, but he elected sign with the Nashville Predators, who are well outside the playoff picture currently. However, with another two years left for O'Reilly after this, they shouldn't be in any rush to sell now, and might have no inclination to move him.
Mikael Granlund (
32 years old, 1 x $5M, 44 points in 51 games) is the top scorer for the basement dwelling San Jose Sharks, and while as a pending UFA he presents an intriguing trade chip for the rebuilding team, there's also reportedly mutual interest in a re-signing. After all, he provides some sheltering for younger forwards like Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith as they grow into NHL stars.
Yanni Gourde (
33 years old, 1 x $5.17M, 16 points in 35 games) has reportedly indicated he would be willing to accept a move to Toronto. A Stanley Cup champion with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Gourde's game has slowed a bit over the years, but he's still a competitive, gritty player who helps drive play well, and can chip in some secondary offense. Asking price from Seattle seems to also be something like a 1st and a mid-level prospect. With Toronto's dearth of depth scoring, do they pay a premium for a guy scoring at what amounts to a ~14 goal pace this year?
Scott Laughton (
30 years old, 2 x $3M, 25 points in 50 games) has played more on the wing than at centre this season, but at least in theory
could be the team's third pivot. He at least potentially brings some scoring to the bottom-six that has been lacking, a 0.51 point-per-game rate over the last three seasons running. On top of that, he has an extra year of term, something that the Leafs are interested in.
Trent Frederic (
26 years old, 1 x $2.3M, 14 points in 51 games) is hard to imagine in the blue and white, given his current status as a Boston Bruin, but the pending free agent is somebody that the Leafs' struggling rivals might want to offload. Granted, Boston is still in playoff positioning, and so they probably don't just want to throw away Frederic for scraps, even if he is having a down year. A feisty player, he scored 35 goals in 161 games over the previous two seasons.
Luke Kunin (
27 years old, 1 x $2.75M, 18 points in 54 games) is apparently somebody that the Leafs have shown interest in. Not much of an offensive player, Kunin's career high was 31 points in 63 games back in 2019-20. He's scored at a ~14 goal per 82 game pace since joining the San Jose Sharks three seasons ago, but is he strong enough to elevate Toronto's current third line?
Ryan Donato (
28 years old, 1 x $2M, 29 points in 49 games) is an option Toronto has also reportedly shown interest in, from the Chicago Black Hawks. His 29 points would currently put him 6th on the Leafs' scoring list, and 15 of those are goals (he leads the Hawks with 13 goals at 5v5). An intriguing option for sure, and somebody that it seems it would make sense for Chicago to move.
Nick Bjugstad (
32 years old, 1 x $2.1M, 13 points in 42 games) has also been a name thrown out there. The Arizona Coyotes got 22 goals and 45 points out of him last season, but he didn't take that productivity with him to Utah, where he is scoring at a meagre pace of ~10 goals and ~25 points over 82 games, far more in line with his typical career production levels. Bjugstad might just end up being another fourth line type player who doesn't help Toronto move the needle offensively.
Get one FA @ 50% of the cost to cover 70ish% of Marner's offence and then allocate the rest of the money to other parts of the team.
