Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving has been among the executives working overtime of late. The rumor mill grinds with talk of the Leafs trying to bolster their lineup any way they can.
Of course, that’s easier said than done. One of the pervasive rumors has been a reunion between the Maple Leafs and Nazem Kadri. However, there’s a fat chance of that happening. But there could be another reunion brewing. This reunion is not between the Leafs and a former player, but between Treliving and a player he once signed.
The player in question is Blake Coleman. The latest Maple Leafs’ rumor has the team in hot pursuit of the 34-year-old Coleman. An anonymous NHL source told RG Media’s James Murphy that Toronto is among other teams interested in Coleman.
The source stated:
“He’s a guy I think teams believe they could acquire for a lesser price than Kadri and Andersson, but a guy that also knows how to win. He’s got two Stanley Cup rings and was part of that Tampa run and a team that had plenty of winners and leaders. There’s a reason he’s got an A on his jersey now in Calgary, and by all accounts, he’s part of the reason this team may be losing more than they want, but they’re also competing.”
Indeed, Coleman was a key depth piece in the Lightning’s Stanley Cup runs in 2020 and 2021. He delivered scoring and hard checking. That’s what originally attracted the Flames to Coleman in 2021. Treliving, the then-Flames’ GM, signed Coleman to a six-year, $29.4 million deal. That’s a deal set to expire in the summer of 2027.
Where Coleman Fits into Maple Leafs Lineup
So, where exactly would Blake Coleman fit into the Maple Leafs’ lineup? He’s a winger who can play both sides. That’s a huge plus considering the need Toronto has for consistency in its forward lines.
To be fair, injuries ravaged the lineup, forcing Craig Berube to come up with piecemeal lineups. Coleman can deliver some much-needed consistency, helping stabilize the middle six. In fact, it may not be a stretch to see Coleman on the top line with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies.
Coleman can be the responsible adult who allows Matthews to run amok on the ice. Otherwise, Berube could deploy Coleman on the second line with John Tavares and William Nylander.
The Cost to Land Coleman
The cost, as Murphy’s source pointed out, would be much cheaper than Kadri’s or Rasmus Andersson’s. The price tag, unfortunately, would not come cheaply. The prevailing chatter is that the Flames don’t necessarily want to part ways with Coleman.
So, it might take a substantial offer to get Coleman on the Maple Leafs’ roster. Perhaps it might take another first-round pick. The Leafs paid one for Scott Laughton, so why not another one for Coleman?
The Flames may also be willing to take a veteran off the Maple Leafs’ hands. Perhaps Brandon Carlo could help move the needle. But one has to think it will take far more to get a deal in line. So, Treliving may have to pay through the nose to get his man this time around.
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