The Toronto Maple Leafs have been linked to trading away some forwards, and one trade idea has them dealing two forwards for one in an intriguing move.
Heavy.com has a trade idea that would see the Maple Leafs acquire Jesperi Kotkaniemi from the Carolina Hurricanes in an intriguing move.
Maple Leafs acquire:
Hurricanes acquire:
The proposed deal would be intriguing as Toronto would get the best player in the deal, but Kotkaniemi’s contract isn’t considered a good one. Carolina, meanwhile, gets off Kotkaniemi’s deal but does have to take on two contracts, and both can play in the NHL this season.
The Maple Leafs would acquire Kotkaniemi, who can be the third-line center. Or, the team’s second-line left winger, which is a better fit. He’s entering the fourth year of his eight-year, $38.56 million deal. The former third overall pick hasn’t lived up to expectations. But he could add some secondary scoring for the Maple Leafs. He recorded 12 goals and 21 assists for 33 points in 78 games last season.
In return, the Maple Leafs would give up Domi, who would replace Kotkaniemi in the Hurricanes’ lineup. He’s entering the second year of his four-year, $15 million deal. He would bring a physical edge to the Hurricanes’ lineup and add some secondary scoring. Domi recorded 8 goals and 25 assists for 33 points in 74 games.
Carolina would also acquire Jarnkrok, who’s in the final year of his four-year, $8.4 million deal. He’d be a bottom-six forward for the Hurricanes and add some more depth to the lineup.
Maple Leafs Trying to Move Money Around
Toronto has an excess of forwards, and the likes of Jarnkrok, David Kampf, and Nick Robertson have all been mentioned in trade rumors.
However, the Maple Leafs have also been linked to signing Jack Roslovic. NHL insider Elliotte Friedman says Toronto is looking to move some money out before making any moves.
“I’ve heard there’s still a few teams looking at him. He’s the best available player remaining,” Friedman said about Roslovic. “Obviously, he hasn’t found anything he 100 percent likes, but there’s definitely a few teams poking around there. I’ve heard five or six, so he has to get to something he’s comfortable with, and we know with Toronto, they’re trying to move money around.”
However, Toronto could also move money out while acquiring an asset in a deal like Kotkaniemi.
Hurricanes Could Deal Kotkaniemi
Carolina signed Kotkaniemi away from the Montreal Canadiens with an offer sheet in 2021, after the Habs didn’t match the offer.
However, since joining Carolina, Kotkaniemi hasn’t lived up to the hype and insider Rob Couch of NHLTradeRumors named the Finnish forward a trade candidate.
“The Carolina Hurricanes don’t need the cap space and also don’t have an immediate upgrade at the ready if they were to move Jesperi Kotkaniemi. But it is a move that the team would be happier making than not before his contract expires,” Couch wrote. “The 25-year-old has five years left on his deal at $4.82 million AAV and has no trade protection until next year.
“Some teams might just be desperate enough that they are willing to take the chance on a former third overall pick who could need a change in scenery himself,” Couch added.
Kotkaniemi has skated in 476 career games, recording 76 goals and 118 assists for 194 points.
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