The Toronto Maple Leafs are looking to add another top-six forward, and one trade idea has them landing one from the Minnesota Wild.
Heavy.com proposed a deal that would see the Maple Leafs acquire Ryan Hartman from the Wild in an intriguing multi-player deal.
Maple Leafs acquire:
Wild acquire:
The Maple Leafs would trade two NHL forwards and a defensive prospect for a second-line forward who can add some much-needed offense to the lineup.
Toronto would acquire Hartman, who’s entering the second year of his three-year, $12 million deal and would project to be on the Maple Leafs’ second line, but could even play on the top line, replacing Mitch Marner on right wing. Hartman can also play center in a pinch, which is also key. The 30-year-old recorded 11 goals and 15 assists for 26 points in 69 games. His career-high is 65 points and 34 goals.
A big part of the return for the Wild would be Robertson and Webber. Robertson is a good middle-six forward who hasn’t been given much of a role with Toronto. Robertson is a pending RFA and recorded 15 goals and 7 assists for 22 points in 69 games.
The Maple Leafs would also trade Webber, who’s a 24-year-old defenseman prospect who could make the Wild’s roster this season. Webber played in 60 games in the AHL last season, recording 1 goal and 6 assists for 7 points.
The final part of the trade is Toronto dealing Jarnkrok to make the salaries work. Jarnkrok is in the final year of his four-year, $8.4 million deal. He’d be a good bottom-six forward for the Wild.
Maple Leafs Need Another Top-Six Forward
Toronto adding Hartman would make sense as he could be the team’s top line right winger, filling the void of Marner.
Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving said after the opening day of free agency that adding another top-six forward was key.
“Mitch was a top-six forward, and we haven’t replaced that hole,” Treliving said. “That’s really where our focus is.”
Treliving and the Maple Leafs, despite losing Marner, have had a good free offseason. Toronto added Mattias Maccelli, Nic Roy, and Dakota Joshua in trades to bolster the middle of the Maple Leafs’ lineup.
Although Toronto lost a 102-point player, the Maple Leafs likely have more depth and physicality, which will be key come the playoffs.
Maple Leafs Acquire Joshua
Toronto did make an intriguing move by acquiring bottom-six forward Dakota Joshua from the Vancouver Canucks earlier this week.
Joshua projects to be on Toronto’s third line, and all the Maple Leafs had to give up was a 2028 fourth-round pick.
“Dakota went through a lot last season before the year even started and we were very impressed in how he handled such a difficult off-ice situation,” Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin said. “Once healthy, he tried hard to help the team in many ways, and we want to wish him the best moving forward in Toronto.”
Joshua has three years left on his four-year, $13 million deal. He recorded 7 goals and 7 assists for 14 points in 57 games.
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