Toronto Maple Leafs’ Struggles
As the Toronto Maple Leafs head into the week, their situation appears grim, sitting near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings with a dismal record of 8 wins, 9 losses, and 2 overtime losses. Amid a challenging stretch of five straight games without a victory (0-4-1), whispers of potential roster changes are circulating.
Potential Trade for Rasmus Andersson
On a recent episode of the Leafs Morning Take podcast, host Jay Rosehill shared insider information suggesting that the team has its sights set on acquiring Rasmus Andersson from the Calgary Flames. The 29-year-old defenseman, who is on the threshold of unrestricted free agency in July, currently holds a contract with a cap hit of $4.55 million annually. However, Rosehill expressed doubt about whether the Leafs have the necessary assets to make such a deal happen unless Andersson commits to a contract extension with Toronto.
“The Leafs may not have the necessary assets to make such a deal happen unless Andersson commits to a contract extension with Toronto.”
Adding to the speculation, Sportsnet’s prominent NHL insider Elliotte Friedman revealed that the Maple Leafs had previously pursued a trade for Andersson but were unsuccessful. He indicated that while the Flames might have once seemed reluctant to trade their defenseman to Toronto, the current climate might lead to a reevaluation, particularly if the Leafs are willing to part with their rising talent, Easton Cowan.
Trade Strategies and Candidates
Friedman further noted that the Maple Leafs are looking for trades that would involve swapping players of similar caliber, steering clear of depleting their future prospects. This suggests that if Toronto were to engage in discussions about Andersson, they might consider sending players from their lineup who aren’t seen as core assets.
Among potential trade candidates, The Hockey News’ Adam Proteau highlighted Morgan Rielly as a player who could be on the move, speculating whether he might be sent to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Erik Karlsson or to the New Jersey Devils for Dougie Hamilton. While the prospect of playing for a competitive team could lead Rielly to consider waiving his no-movement clause, the current state of the Penguins—performing better than expected—makes a Karlsson trade unlikely. Hamilton has also indicated no desire to leave the Devils, which complicates matters for the Leafs.
Additionally, Proteau mentioned other veterans such as Max Domi and Brandon Carlo, along with depth forwards Calle Jarnkrok, Nick Robertson, Bobby McMann, and Dakota Joshua, as possible trade options. However, any deals involving these players may not yield significant immediate returns.
Prospects and Future Outlook
The Toronto Sun’s Terry Koshan recently noted that prospect Easton Cowan and power forward Matthew Knies are two players that other teams currently have their eyes on, although they are amongst those least likely to be traded from Toronto’s ranks.
With the trade market looming and the Maple Leafs struggling to find their footing, fans and analysts alike are left to wonder if any significant moves are on the horizon. For ongoing coverage and in-depth hockey analysis, you can subscribe to The Hockey News.
