The Toronto Maple Leafs have their hands in many different baskets.
While there are reports that Max Pacioretty is interested in a return to the club, other areas of the organization require GM Brad Treliving’s attention. Heavy.com proposed a trade that would address the need for more blueline depth by acquiring Mario Ferraro from the San Jose Sharks.
Maple Leafs Acquire:
Sharks Acquire:
- Calle Jarnkrok
- Nick Robertson’s RFA rights
The Maple Leafs are shopping a few players to ease salary cap pressure. This trade allows them to acquire a defender who plays the way they would like, in addition to finding a solution for their Nick Robertson arbitration hearing.
While other trades might improve the Maple Leafs’ ability to score goals, this proposal will help them be harder to play against.
Why Would the Sharks Trade Mario Ferraro?
Trading away a 26-year-old defender isn’t something NHL organizations are doing every day. However, according to a report, the Sharks and Ferraro are looking for a change of scenery.
The Fourth Period reports that, “he hasn’t asked for a trade, but he would be open to a change of scenery, and with San Jose adding three new defencemen, now might be the time.” David Pagnotta also reports, “teams that reached out during the regular season will poke around this off-season.”
The Fourth Period reported four teams interested in Ferraro: the Colorado Avalanche, Tampa Bay Lightning, Winnipeg Jets, and Calgary Flames.
On March 6th, Max Miller of The Hockey News reported that Pierre LeBrun stated the Sharks were taking calls on Ferraro. Miller also wrote that the Maple Leafs had an interest in Ferraro at that time.
Additionally, The Fourth Period also reports that Calle Jarnkrok is one of the players that the Maple Leafs are “dangling” to dump salary.
Problem 1: Shedding Salary
The first problem that this trade would solve for the Maple Leafs is salary constraints. They are looking to tweak their roster. However, with only $2.932 million in space, their flexibility is hampered.
Including Jarnkrok in a trade allows them to add another player more easily. In the above trade scenario proposed by Heavy, they would exchange Jarnkrok’s $2.1 million cap hit for Ferraro’s $3.25 million cap hit.
This would give them $1.15 million less money to spend. This doesn’t solve their salary troubles, but it does become less of an issue because of trading away Robertson.
Problem 2: Pending RFA Nick Robertson’s Arbitration Hearing
Robertson and the Maple Leafs are scheduled to meet on August 3rd, unless they reach a new agreement before that date.
According to AFP Analytics, Robertson should only garner a two-year $1.55 million per season contract. Even if that were the deal that the Maple Leafs would agree to with Robertson, it would impede their ability to add another defenseman who would make them harder to play against.
By trading away Robertson to the Sharks, his new team could put his mind at ease by offering him more term and more money. According to PuckPedia, the Sharks have $20.68 million in available cap space. That would be more than enough room to give Robertson a hefty contract for many years.
A deal like this allows the Maple Leafs to add a defender who makes them harder to play against and not have to worry about Robertson’s next contract.
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