Of all the teams pundits have linked Quinn Hughes to, the Toronto Maple Leafs are not one of them. Interestingly, the Leafs are among playoff contenders that actually need a high-end blueliner.
One of the key points of criticism against the Maple Leafs has been their lack of a true number-one defenseman. Some analysts have posited that if Toronto had a blueliner like Cale Makar or Quinn Hughes, the team would have already won a Stanley Cup.
Be that as it may, the Leafs could actually have the pieces to pull off a trade with the Vancouver Canucks. As implausible as it may seem, Toronto could make it work.
In particular, there’s one piece that could entice the Canucks: Morgan Rielly.
The rationale here is that the Canucks believe they are contenders. And so, they want a top-pairing defenseman who could replace Hughes. Now, Rielly wouldn’t “replace” Hughes, but he could certainly take his place.
Placing Rielly on the top pair with Filip Hronek doesn’t sound like a bad idea. Rielly has often lacked a solid defensive partner with the Maple Leafs who could allow him to wheel and deal. Hronek could be that partner. If anything, Rielly might finally find an opportunity to fully unleash his skills.
But there’s something else about Rielly. The 31-year-old is a Vancouver native. So, it would be a sort of homecoming for Rielly to play for the Canucks. It’s an intriguing thought. Getting a Vancouver native could alleviate the loss of Hughes to some degree.
Rielly-for-Hughes Would Make Math Work for Leafs
Another interesting point is that Rielly and Hughes have pretty much the same cap hit. Hughes has a $7.85 million cap hit, whereas Rielly has a $7.5 million hit. The difference is largely negligible in the grander scheme of NHL salary cap dynamics.
Of course, the Canucks gain cost certainty as they would have Rielly under contract for four more seasons. Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs would face the situation of having to extend Hughes in 2027. But that’s a bridge Toronto would likely cross when the time comes.
Maple Leafs May Lack a Key Piece to Make Hughes Trade Work
One of the pieces believed to be on the Canucks’ radar is a top-six center. The Maple Leafs have two in Auston Matthews and John Tavares. However, neither of them would be heading out to Vancouver.
So, there’s really no one else the Maple Leafs could dangle in front of the Canucks. Perhaps someone like Easton Cowan could move the needle. The Canucks have been adamant about getting younger. That’s why Cowan could fit the bill.
Perhaps a combination of players like Nick Robertson and Max Domi could make the deal work. Robertson is certainly young enough to draw the Canucks’ attention. Meanwhile, Max Domi could take on a middle-six center role.
But again, the Canucks may want someone with a much higher ceiling than Max Domi. That’s why it may take giving up Cowan to land Hughes.
Looking at the circumstances, it almost seems like the Maple Leafs could be the team in the best position to land Quinn Hughes.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Maple Leafs Could Have Enough Pieces for Hughes Trade appeared first on Heavy Sports.