The Toronto Maple Leafs are a legit Stanley Cup contender and should look to bolster their lineup.
Heavy.com has a trade idea that sees the Maple Leafs acquiring Pavel Zacha from their heated rival in the Boston Bruins.
Maple Leafs acquire:
Bruins acquire:
- Easton Cowan
- Nick Robertson
- 2027 fifth-round pick
The proposed deal would be a blockbuster and another trade between the Maple Leafs and Bruins, who are heated rivals.
Toronto would acquire Zacha, who can be the team’s second-line left-winger, which is an area of need. Zacha is entering the third year of his four-year, $19 million deal with the Bruins. Zacha would add some secondary scoring to the lineup and can also play center if needed. He recorded 14 goals and 33 assists for 47 points in 82 games. His career high is 21 goals and 59 points.
In return, the Maple Leafs would give up a fifth-round pick, but the big part of the trade is Cowan. Cowan is Toronto’s top forward prospect, but there isn’t a clear path for him to play in the NHL this season, so the Maple Leafs could use him as a trade chip.
The Maple Leafs would also give up Robertson, who gives Boston a middle-six forward who doesn’t have a clear role in Toronto. Robertson added a one-year, $1.825 million extension with the Maple Leafs this summer. He recorded 15 goals and 7 assists for 22 points in 69 games.
Zacha Has Been Linked to Maple Leafs
Toronto needs another top-six forward after losing Mitch Marner this offseason.
The Maple Leafs have added more bottom-six forwards to make them a harder team to play against. However, earlier this offseason, Maple Leafs analyst Matteo Giuliano of EditorInLeaf linked Toronto to trading for Zacha.
“When looking through their roster, Pavel Zacha seems like the most realistic fit. He is currently in the third year of a four-year deal carrying a cap hit of $4.75 million,” Giuliano wrote. “Zacha has played top-six minutes for Boston as a centre, and I could see him being available at the deadline if they have another rough year. The 28-year-old played all 82 games last season, recording 14 goals and 33 assists for 47 points.
“While I don’t think he’s better than Tavares as a second-line center, he can play the wing, which would add more versatility to the lineup, which is always a good thing,” Giuliano added. “The options in Boston are slim, but we’ve seen Treliving make deals with Bruins general manager Don Sweeney before.”
Zacha would be Toronto’s second-line left-winger, which is a need as Bobby McMann held that role last season, but he was scoreless in the playoffs. His salary is also affordable for Toronto to take on, especially if the Maple Leafs trade someone like David Kampf or Calle Jarnkrok.
Maple Leafs Need to Upgrade Their Top-Six
Toronto is expected to once again be one of the top teams in the NHL this season.
However, Toronto still has a glaring need for at least one more top-six forward. Toronto general manager Brad Treliving has said that it is still a need.
The Maple Leafs have the assets to make a trade work, as Toronto can trade off its NHL roster. But with training camps starting next month, the Maple Leafs are running out of time.
Instead, adding a top-six forward could have to wait until the trade deadline.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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