The Toronto Maple Leafs could look to the trade market to add more scoring to the lineup, as most of the impact free agents have all signed elsewhere.
Heavy.com proposed a deal that would see the Maple Leafs acquire Lukas Reichel from the Chicago Blackhawks in an intriguing deal that swaps young forwards.
Maple Leafs acquire:
Blackhawks acquire:
- Nick Robertson
- David Kampf
- 2027 fifth-round pick
- 2028 fifth-round pick
The proposed deal would be an intriguing one, as Toronto would acquire Reichel in exchange for a young forward, a depth NHL forward, and two mid-round draft picks.
The Maple Leafs would acquire Reichel, who was selected in the first round of the 2020 NHL Draft. Although he was selected 17th overall, Reichel hasn’t taken the next steps Chicago had wanted, as he spent time on the fourth line this season. Reichel is in the final year of his two-year $2.4 million deal and will be a part of Germany’s national team. He recorded 8 goals and 14 assists for 22 points in 70 games.
In return, Toronto would give up two fifth-round picks as well as Robertson, who could use a change of scenery. Robertson was a second-round pick in 2019, and like Reichel, hasn’t gotten a ton of playing time or a major role. He’s an RFA after he recorded 15 goals and 7 assists for 22 points in 69 games.
Part of the reason why the Maple Leafs give up two fifth-round picks is for Chicago to take on Kampf’s deal. Kampf has two years left on his four-year, $9.6 million deal. He recorded 5 goals and 8 assists for 13 points in 59 games.
Maple Leafs Linked to Reichel
Despite being a former first-round pick, Reichel’s name has come up in trade talks.
Reichel hasn’t taken over a top-six role as many expected and could use a change of scenery. NHL insider David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reported that the Blackhawks have gotten trade calls on him.
“Teams have been calling about Reichel and the Blackhawks have been listening. He’s going into the final year of his current contract and will remain controllable after this season. Chicago is looking to package assets for immediate upgrades, so we’ll see if Reichel is part of that,” Pagnotta wrote.
After the report indicated Reichel was being shopped, Maple Leafs analyst Gordon Munro of EditorinLeaf links the Maple Leafs to trading for the forward.
“In the Leafs system, he could be put in a good spot on a line with star players like John Tavares, William Nylander, and Auston Matthews,” Munro wrote. “Doing this may be able to get the best out of him.”
Reichel has skated in 169 career games, recording 20 goals and 34 assists for 54 points.
Reichel Could Fill a Need for Maple Leafs
If Toronto does trade for Reichel, he could play in the top-six, which is a need for the Maple Leafs.
If Reichel is given a top-six role, there is a chance he can produce more than he has been. A top-six forward is also a need for the Maple Leafs.
“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 still have nearly $3 million in cap space.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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