The Toronto Maple Leafs could look to trade a defenseman to find Mitch Marner’s replacement on the top line.
Heavy.com has a trade idea that would see Toronto deal Brandon Carlo to the Vegas Golden Knights for a forward who can play in the top-six.
Maple Leafs acquire:
Golden Knights acquire:
The proposed 1-for-1 deal makes a lot of sense for both sides. Toronto gets a top-six forward while trading from an area of strength, while the Golden Knights need help on defense after Alex Pietrangelo’s career could be over due to an injury.
Toronto would acquire Karlsson, who’s entering the seventh year of his eight-year, $47.2 million deal. Karlsson could play center, but his better fit would be on the Maple Leafs’ second-line left winger, which is a major need. Toronto hasn’t added a top-six forward to replace Marner, and Karlsson would do just that.
Karlsson would be able to play on the power play and add some more secondary scoring to the lineup, which is key for the Maple Leafs. He recorded 9 goals and 20 assists for 29 points in 53 games. In the playoffs, he had 3 goals and 3 assists for 6 points in 11 games.
In return, the Golden Knights would acquire Carlo, who’s a shutdown defenseman, and help replace the void of Pietrangelo. Carlo is entering the fifth year of his six-year, $24.6 million deal. Carlo recorded 1 goal and 11 assists for 12 points in 83 games between the Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins. But, he’s more known for being a shutdown defenseman.
Insider Believes Maple Leafs Could Flip Carlo for a Forward
Toronto has an excess of defenseman and could look to trade from the area of strength to acquire a top-six forward.
The Maple Leafs have Morgan Rielly, Chris Tanev, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Carlo, Simon Benoit, Jake McCabe, Philippe Myers, and Henry Thrun as NHL defenseman. With that, NHL insider Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet named Carlo a trade candidate this summer.
“It may be hard to believe the Leafs would trade away Carlo so soon after paying a steep price to acquire him. But the fact is Toronto doesn’t have many assets to make a deal with,” Kypreos wrote. “Right-shot, minute-munching defencemen will always have a market in the NHL and so Carlo is the one trade chip that could command a lot of attention. He could be part of a deal that adds some scoring to the forward group as they recover from the loss of Mitch Marner.”
Carlo is on a cheap deal due to the Bruins’ retaining money and is a top-four defenseman, which makes him an attractive option.
Karlsson Would Fill Major Need for Maple Leafs
Karlsson would be a top-six forward for the Maple Leafs and add some more offense to the lineup.
Meanwhile, after Vegas added Marner from the Maple Leafs, Karlsson’s role could diminish, which could make him a trade target.
Adding a top-six winger is also a need, according to general manager Brad Treliving.
“Mitch was a top-six forward, and we haven’t replaced that hole,” Treliving said on July 1. “That’s really where our focus is.”
Ultimately, the Maple Leafs may have to wait until the trade deadline to acquire a top-six forward.
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