The Toronto Maple Leafs need a top-six forward and should look to the trade market and a Western team to fill the need.
Heavy.com has a trade idea that would see the Maple Leafs acquire Nick Schmaltz from the Utah Mammoth in an intriguing deal.
Maple Leafs acquire:
Mammoth acquire:
- Bobby McMann
- Philippe Myers
- 2026 third-round pick
- 2028 fifth-round pick
The proposed deal would be a big deal as the Maple Leafs would acquire Schmaltz, who’d bolster Toronto’s top-six. The Maple Leafs, meanwhile, give up two draft picks, an NHL forward, and a depth NHL defenseman.
The Maple Leafs would acquire Schmaltz, who can either be the first-line right winger or the second-line left winger, which are needs. Although he shoots right, he does play left wing, as well. Schmaltz could fill a big need and add some secondary offense. He recorded 20 goals and 43 assists for 63 points last season. Schmaltz is in the final year of his seven-year, $40.95 million deal, which makes him a trade candidate.
In return, the Maple Leafs would give up two draft picks and McMann. McMann can help replace the void of Schmaltz, as his role with the team would be diminished. He’s in the final year of his two-year, $2.7 million deal. McMann is 29 and recorded 20 goals and 14 assists for 34 points last season.
The Maple Leafs would also deal Myers, who’s a third-pairing defenseman, but he doesn’t have a role in Toronto. Myers is entering the first year of a two-year, $1.7 million deal. He recorded 2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points in 36 games.
McMann Could be Odd Man Out in Maple Leafs Lineup
The Maple Leafs added a lot of bottom-six forwards to the lineup, which could put McMann’s role in jeopardy.
McMann struggled down the stretch and didn’t score a goal in the playoffs. With that, NHL analyst Bryan Hayes believes McMann should be a healthy scratch to begin the season.
“I’m not convinced he’s going to be there opening night,” Hayes said on OverDrive. “He doesn’t play as big as his credentials might suggest. He was awful in the playoffs, he should have come out of the lineup…
“There’s guys that haven’t proven that they can score goals, one of those guys would be Bobby McMann. So it’s not like McMann can put his hand up and say I’m guaranteed a spot. He’s making $1.3 million. I’m not saying he will be on waivers. A, they may trade him, B, he might just be the 13th forward. At $1.3 (million) you don’t need to play a guy like that.”
However, McMann is still an impactful NHL forward and could be used in Utah’s lineup well.
Maple Leafs Have Need for Top-Six Winger
If the Maple Leafs do trade for Schmaltz, he would fit a big need, which is a top-six scoring winger.
Since losing Mitch Marner this offseason, Toronto hasn’t gotten a top-six forward, which is a need, according to general manager Brad Treliving.
“When a player of Mitch’s magnitude moves away, that’s never a fun day… In a situation where a player was walking away this morning for nothing, we were able to recoup a player that fits a need for us… 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.”
The Maple Leafs have some NHL players they can move off their team to get a top-six forward.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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