The Toronto Maple Leafs have been struggling to begin the season, and the team could look to make a big move.
Toronto has a clear need on defense, but the Maple Leafs should also look to add some more offense to the lineup. The Maple Leafs still have yet to truly replace the offense of Mitch Marner, who left this offseason.
With that, NHL analyst and former Maple Leafs forward Jeff O’Neill believes Toronto should try and trade for Steven Stamkos from the Nashville Predators.
“Maybe you can squeeze some juice out of it,” O’Neill said on ‘OverDrive’ on Tuesday. “I’ll confirm it. Put him down low on the power-play; you can interchange with Willy Nylander, a power-play type specialist. He might get you 25 (goals). I would sniff around and kick tires.”
Stamkos is in the second year of his four-year, $32 million deal with the Predators. Since leaving the Tampa Bay Lightning, Stamkos has struggled, and the Predators could look to move off his contract.
If the Maple Leafs are going to acquire Stamkos, Nashville would have to retain money on him. But, it would be a big move from Toronto as Stamkos would add some more goal scoring to the roster, which is a need.
Stamkos has recorded 3 goals and 1 assist for 4 points in 18 games this season. His career high is 60 goals, and he has scored 40+ goals seven times.
Insider Expects Predators to ‘Field Offers’ for Stamkos
Nashville failed to make the playoffs last season, and once again this year, the Predators have struggled.
If Nashville’s slow start continues, NHL insider Pierre LeBrun of TSN believes Stamkos could be moved.
“If we get to the second half of the season and the Predators are out of a playoff spot, I do believe that the Predators would be open to fielding calls on Steven Stamkos, who has two-and-a-half years left on his contract at $8 million per (season),” LeBrun said on Insider Trading.
“Again, this is up to Stamkos. He actually loves living in Nashville, I’m told, but obviously, hockey-wise, it’s not been a good fit. He’d be pretty picky here. This is not about going to any single situation if something arises. He would certainly have a short list of teams only, and that’s if he decides to go down that route.”
LeBrun did note that no conversations have happened yet between Stamkos and Nashville on trade talks. But his name has come up as a potential trade candidate ahead of the deadline.
Maple Leafs Coach Sends Message to Team
Toronto lost back-to-back games on Saturday and Sunday as the Maple Leafs didn’t play well.
After the loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday, Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube sent a clear message to the team as he felt like they had struggled in their own end.
“My job as a coach is to get them back on track, and that’s what I’m gonna keep trying to do. Keep banging away at it,” Berube said. “We’re scoring enough goals every game to win games, but we’re letting in too many goals. Pretty much the season is, we don’t value the defensive side of the puck enough.”
The Maple Leafs are off to an 8-7-1 start.
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