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East Notes: Bolduc, Konecny, Merzļikins, Lyubushkin

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The Islanders have reinstated defenseman Samuel Bolduc after assigning him to AHL Bridgeport on a conditioning loan late last month, Stefen Rosner of NHL.com reports. Bolduc remained on the active roster and counted against the cap while on his conditioning stint, so no corresponding transaction is necessary.

Bolduc, 23, scored a goal and earned a +2 rating in five games for Bridgeport over the past week and a half. It was his first minor-league action in 11 months after cracking the NHL roster out of training camp for the first time this season. The 2019 second-round pick has not played for the Isles since Jan. 27 and was a healthy scratch in seven straight before his assignment to Bridgeport. He’s averaged just 12:56 per game this season, the lowest among active Islanders defenders, and has three points and a -5 rating in 33 games. He’s struggled to control possession in his limited minutes, too, logging a 43.4 CF% at even strength.

Other updates from the Eastern Conference:

  • Flyers winger Travis Konecny remains out Monday against the Blues. However, he returned to practice with the team this morning, albeit in a non-contact jersey, per Charlie O’Connor of PHLY Sports. It’s the first time he’s been on the ice with the team since sustaining an upper-body injury last month that’s cost him five games. Despite the absence, he remains Philadelphia’s leading scorer with 27 goals and 54 points in 57 games, leaving quite a large hole in their lineup as they aim to hold on to a playoff berth and third place in the Metropolitan Division down the stretch.
  • Blue Jackets netminder Elvis Merzļikins’ absence is not a guise for a potential trade, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports. His day-to-day designation with an upper-body injury is legitimate, and the 29-year-old will miss tonight’s game against the Golden Knights as such. Rookie Jet Greaves was recalled under emergency conditions from AHL Cleveland yesterday and is expected to back up Daniil Tarasov, who will start for the second time in three games. Trade speculation surrounds Merzļikins amidst a bounce-back season from the Latvian goaltender, who has a robust .904 SV% and 12-13-7 record in 35 games behind a rebuilding Blue Jackets squad.
  • The new-but-familiar Ilya Lyubushkin won’t miss any time for the Maple Leafs after sustaining a head injury in Saturday’s shootout win over the Rangers, per David Alter of The Hockey News. Lyubushkin was a full participant in Monday’s morning skate alongside Morgan Rielly and will suit up for his second game since last week’s trade from the Ducks in a likely first-round preview against the Bruins tonight. The Russian blue-liner, who has four assists in 56 games this year, was on the receiving end of a controversial hit from towering New York enforcer Matt Rempe in the second period over the weekend and did not return to the game.

Canadiens Shopping Multiple Depth Wingers

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The Canadiens’ offense hasn’t done much this year outside of their top line of Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky and Nick Suzuki, ranking 27th in the league. As such, Montreal GM Kent Hughes is open to moving out multiple wingers – a group highlighted by two-time 20-goal scorer Josh Anderson – ahead of the March 8 trade deadline, reports David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period.

According to Pagnotta, Hughes is also shopping solid shutdown winger Joel Armia and pending UFA Tanner Pearson. It’s not like the Canadiens have a bunch of youngsters chomping at the bit to take their spots—prospects like Sean Farrell and Emil Heineman need some more minor-league development time—but it does behoove them to free up some roster space and gain some assets as they continue their rebuild.

The Canadiens still need de facto retired goaltender Carey Price’s $10.5MM LTIR relief to remain cap-compliant, although their cap hit has been exacerbated by some injuries this season. Still, contracts like Anderson’s (a $5.5MM cap hit through 2027) aren’t ideal for a rebuilding squad, especially for his level of dwindling production.

Once a highly sought-after developing power forward, the 6-foot-3 Anderson has tanked this season with eight goals and 17 points in 57 games despite still seeing some top-six minutes, averaging 16:05 per game. He is shooting far below his career average at 7.1%, but his possession metrics are also among the worst on the team – no Canadien has a worse expected rating than Anderson’s -9.7.

Given his low shooting percentage, though, there is hope for some positive goal-scoring regression, which was always one of the more attractive aspects of his game. Anderson may still have some trade value if the Habs are willing to slash his cap hit down to $2.75MM by retaining 50% of the remainder of his deal. That’s much closer to what he would earn on the free-agent market if he were a UFA this summer.

While Montreal would also likely need to retain some of Armia’s $3.4MM cap hit through 2025, he probably has the highest trade value out of their three forward assets. After being buried in the minors to start the year, injuries re-opened an NHL opportunity, and he’s responded well. His 11 goals on the campaign make him the only active non-first-line player with double-digits on the year, and he’s managed a 48.2 CF% at even strength (sixth among full-time Habs forwards) while logging first-unit minutes on their penalty kill. Add in his solid postseason performance with Montreal on their run to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final, and he appears a solid pickup for any contender looking to add some defensive acumen to their fourth line.

Theoretically, Pearson’s expiring deal makes him the easiest to move, but it’s hard to imagine much interest in the 31-year-old’s services. Now relegated to a fourth-line role with the Canadiens, he has five goals and 11 points in 42 games with a -11 rating. Hughes would again need to retain some of his $3.25MM cap hit to move him out.

Those retention caveats highlight a crucial problem with the Canadiens’ deadline plans. They’re still retaining salary on the contracts of Joel Edmundson and Jeff Petry, meaning they only have one slot left for an additional retained salary transaction. With none of these players likely to get moved at full price in-season, the Habs will likely only be able to move one or enlist a third party to retain 50% of a contract on another.

Devils Prefer Not To Trade Tyler Toffoli

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Devils winger Tyler Toffoli has drawn some trade interest ahead of Friday’s deadline, including from a former team. However, the team prefers to hang onto the pending UFA and continue negotiating an extension even if he’s not inked by the end of the week, per Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet on Monday’s edition of “32 Thoughts” (and relayed by James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now).

While they haven’t been publicly named, it’s clear the Kings aren’t the only team interested in Toffoli’s services. That’s far from surprising — Toffoli is on pace to lead his team in goals for the second straight season and has firmly cemented himself as a top-six winger with five straight 20-goal seasons, including the COVID-shortened 2020-21 campaign.

Toffoli broke out that season with 28 snipes and 44 points in only 52 games for the Canadiens, the highest point-per-game rate of his career up to that point. He’s since surpassed that mark with his career-best 34-goal, 73-point season with the Flames last year.

He was traded to the Devils by Calgary last summer in exchange for the signing rights to Yegor Sharangovich and a third-round pick, his third time being dealt over the previous four years. It’s been quite a tumultuous time for Toffoli throughout his offensive breakout, skating for four teams since his eight-year stint with Los Angeles ended before the 2020 trade deadline.

Friedman labeled Toffoli as “more of a wish than a likelihood” for teams looking to add scoring help this week, keeping one of the better pending UFAs out there barely on the market for now. He carries a cap hit of just $4.25MM and is nearing completion of the four-year, $17MM contract he signed with Montreal during his last time testing the free agent market in 2020. If teams want to pry Toffoli away from the Garden State, it’ll need to be an offer above market value for a rental.

His stat sheet in New Jersey isn’t quite as impressive as last year’s run in Calgary, potting 26 goals, 18 assists, 44 points, and a -14 rating in 60 games. He is, however, averaging the highest time on ice of his career with a 17:31 average, and the team’s subpar goaltending has tanked his rating. His expected +5.9 rating is fifth on the team behind Jesper Bratt, rookie defenseman Simon Nemec, Jack Hughes, and Ondřej Palát.

As such, he’ll command a considerable raise (and some trade protection) on an extension with the Devils, something they should be willing to dole out given how he helped stabilize the offense with injuries taking out both of their top two centers for extended periods this season. The team is built for the future despite a disappointing season. While a long-term deal isn’t in the cards for Toffoli at age 31, he’s likely to be a valuable top-six piece for New Jersey as they work toward making the postseason consistently over the next few years.

After back-to-back losses to the Ducks and Kings, the Devils are now only three games above .500 and trail the current second wild-card spot holder, the Lightning, by eight points with two games in hand. Per MoneyPuck, their playoff chances have dipped to 15.8%, beneath other wild-card hopefuls like the Islanders and Penguins but still ahead of the Capitals and Sabres.

Even so, it makes little sense for the Devils to sell, given they’d very likely be in playoff position with anything close to league-average goaltending. Their trio of Nico Daws, Akira Schmid and Vítek Vaněček have conceded a combined 19.1 goals above expected on the season, according to MoneyPuck, costing them several wins.

Five Key Stories: 2/26/24 – 3/3/24

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The trade deadline is just days away.  We’ve seen a couple of moves so far which are included in our key stories along with some other notable news across the NHL.

Kuznetsov Returns, Gets Waived: Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov was cleared to resume practicing with the team as he reached the follow-up phase of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program.  However, the team he’ll actually practice with is AHL Hershey after Washington waived him, sending him down after he cleared on Sunday.  The 31-year-old has struggled this season with just six goals and 11 assists in 43 games, hardly a good return on a $7.8MM contract that runs through 2024-25.  Now the highest-paid player on a regular AHL assignment in league history, the Capitals will continue to look to find ways to give him a chance at a fresh start with another organization.

Tanev To Dallas: Another big domino from Calgary came off the trade board as the Flames moved defenseman Chris Tanev to Dallas as part of a three-team trade that also saw New Jersey pick up a fourth-round pick for retaining 25% of Tanev’s salary.  Calgary, who retained 50% of Tanev’s $4.5MM price tag, picked up defense prospect Artyom Grushnikov, who was a 2021 second-round pick, along with Dallas’ 2024 second-round selection.  If Dallas wins the Stanley Cup, the Flames would also get their 2026 third-round choice.  Tanev, who is still dealing with visa issues, gives the Stars a quality shutdown defender who will undoubtedly log big minutes on the penalty kill and help bolster their top four in general while having a minimal effect on their cap at only a quarter of his actual price tag.

Eight For Pettersson: While Elias Pettersson’s original plan was to wait until the offseason to sign his next contract, it didn’t play out that way.  As speculation started to mount about his potential future with Vancouver, which even included trade discussions with Carolina, Pettersson opted to give the green light to his camp to work out a new deal now.  Those talks ended with an eight-year, $92.8MM extension, the richest contract in franchise history.  The deal contains no-move protection starting in 2025-26, the first year he’s eligible for it.  Pettersson has certainly earned the deal, becoming one of the top two-way centers in the league over the past couple of seasons while he has a shot at back-to-back 100-point seasons.  As things stand, he’s set to be the fifth-highest-paid player in the league next season with an AAV of $11.6MM.

Another Year For Quick: When the Rangers brought in Jonathan Quick as their backup last summer, there were some question marks as he was coming off a rough 2022-23 campaign.  However, things have gone quite well for him this season and he was rewarded for his efforts with a one-year, $1.275MM extension, one that carries a 20-team no-trade clause.  The 38-year-old has fared quite well this season, posting a 2.45 GAA along with a .916 SV% in 21 games so far.  If that holds, those would be his best numbers since the 2017-18 campaign with Los Angeles.  All told, it has been a nice bounce-back year and he’ll be staying in New York for a little while longer.

Back To Toronto: Two years ago, Ilya Lyubushkin had a good run down the stretch with Toronto before departing for Buffalo in free agency.  The Maple Leafs are hoping that history will repeat itself as they acquired the blueliner from Anaheim in a trade that also saw Carolina hold back 25% of his contract in exchange for a sixth-round pick.  The Ducks, meanwhile, retained the maximum of 50% of his $2.75MM price and received a 2025 third-round selection.  Lyubushkin has four assists along with 138 blocks and 116 in 56 games this season and gives Toronto a much-needed right-shot option.  However, he suffered an upper-body injury in his first contest with the Leafs on the weekend.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Snapshots: Johnson, Tanev, Dumba

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With a couple of rental defensemen off the trade block having been moved in recent days, Sabres GM Kevyn Adams told Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News that he had received more calls in the previous two days about defenseman Erik Johnson than he had cumulatively leading up to that point.  The 35-year-old has had a very limited role this year, logging just 13:48 per game, the lowest full-season average of his career while he has just three points – all goals – in 50 games.  However, Johnson has 55 career appearances under his belt including a Stanley Cup title with Colorado two years ago and teams could be looking at him as a depth addition for the stretch run.  With a $3.25MM price tag, Buffalo will almost certainly have to pay that down to help facilitate a trade if one comes together.

Elsewhere around the NHL:

  • Earlier this week, it was reported that the Flames had a first-round pick on the table in an offer for Chris Tanev but declined since it involved taking money back beyond this season. That offer may have been from the Oilers, according to Postmedia’s Kurt Leavins, who says that Edmonton had a first-rounder on the table.  Speculatively, that offer may have required taking one of Brett Kulak ($2.75MM through 2025-26) or Cody Ceci ($3.25MM through 2024-25) back to make the money work.  Instead, Calgary sent him to Dallas for a second-round pick and prospect Artyom Grushnikov, a deal that kept some money on their books this year but only for this season.
  • One of the top rental blueliners left on the market heading into Friday’s deadline, on paper, is Coyotes defenseman Matt Dumba. However, his one-year, $3.9MM deal hasn’t quite worked out as planned as he has been limited to just nine points in 56 games despite logging over 20 minutes a night.  Accordingly, PHNX Sports’ Craig Morgan suggests that Dumba’s value might be a third-round pick as things stand with the potential to get a second-rounder if they hold back the maximum 50%.  The 29-year-old doesn’t have any trade protection in his contract.

West Notes: Predators, Wild, Kunin, Eklund

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With the Predators hanging around the playoff race, it’s unlikely they’ll be significant buyers or sellers by Friday’s trade deadline.  However, that doesn’t mean they won’t be active on the trade front.  Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek reports that the team has made it known that they’re open to weaponizing their cap space – more than $37MM available on deadline day, per CapFriendly – to add assets.  That could come in the form of being a third-party retainer although they only have one retention slot left.  Alternatively, they could take on an undesirable contract or two while adding future assets in return for taking those on.  If they’re willing to do so, GM Barry Trotz will undoubtedly have some teams calling him to see what the price of that might be.

More from the Western Conference:

  • The Wild were without a pair of wingers for their game tonight against San Jose. The team announced (Twitter link) that Mats Zuccarello was out for personal reasons.  The 36-year-old is hovering near the point-per-game mark this year with 50 points in his first 52 appearances.  Meanwhile, NHL.com’s Jessi Pierce adds (Twitter link) that winger Marcus Johansson is dealing with a lower-body injury that kept him out of the lineup.  Johansson isn’t producing at the rate he was down the stretch last season but still has 27 points in 61 games.
  • Sharks forward Luke Kunin has been speculated as a possible trade candidate before Friday’s deadline. However, he told San Jose Hockey Now’s Josh Frojelin that he’s hoping to stay with the team although he acknowledged there haven’t been any discussions about an extension so far.  It has been a rough year for the 26-year-old who has just eight goals and four assists in 54 games.  Owed a $3MM qualifying offer, he currently profiles as a possible non-tender candidate in June.
  • Still with the Sharks, they announced (Twitter link) that forward William Eklund was scratched from tonight’s game due to illness. The 21-year-old is in his first full season at the NHL level and has fared relatively well, all things considered.  Eklund has 10 goals and 17 assists through 59 games so far and while those numbers don’t jump off the board, they’re good for third on San Jose in scoring.

Ducks Recall Alex Stalock

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The Ducks made a roster move just minutes before their game tonight against Vancouver was set to start, announcing that they’ve recalled goaltender Alex Stalock from AHL San Diego.  His promotion was needed with John Gibson being scratched due to illness.

The 36-year-old is in his first season with Anaheim after signing a one-year, $800K one-way contract with them back in August.  While it’s his fourth recall of the year, Stalock has yet to play for the Ducks.

Instead, he has spent the majority of the year with the Gulls but has been limited to just 11 appearances at that level where he has a 3.84 GAA along with a .892 SV%.  But with 179 career NHL games under his belt where he has a 2.70 GAA and a .908 SV%, it’s possible that a team or two might be interested in adding Stalock to stash in the minors as injury depth for the stretch run and it’s doubtful the asking price would be too high for his services.

Philadelphia Flyers Sign Denver Barkey To Entry-Level Contract

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The Philadelphia Flyers have signed London Knights forward Denver Barkey to an entry-level contract. Barkey was selected with the 95th-overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft and has since dominated the OHL, ranking fifth in the league with 87 points in 56 games. He also ranks in the top 15 of goal-scorers, with 31.

Barkey is the leading scorer behind a dangerous London offense this season, with the Knights leading the league’s standings and scoring. He’s combined well with fellow Flyers prospect Oliver Bonk, who Philadelphia selected with the 22nd-overall pick last season. Bonk signed his entry-level deal in mid-August, though his placement in the OHL will delay the contract’s start. The London Knights are gearing up for a long run in the CHL’s Memorial Cup, but with Philadelphia in a playoff position, both players could reasonably be recalled if needed, though that would begin their NHL contracts. They’ll have needed to come a long way to be NHL-ready, with the duo being some of Philadelphia’s first cuts at training camp this September.

Barkey brings a style Philadelphia isn’t unfamiliar with – boasting great head-on speed, good awareness, and the ability to make quick plays in the offensive end. His 5’9″ stature was a point of contention ahead of the draft, but it’s a style Philadelphia has embraced, with 5’8″ Cam Atkinson and Bobby Brink both earning routine NHL roles this season. The team has also iced 5’9″ defensemen Victor Mete and Emil Andrae at different points this year, showing their prioritization of skill even, on the back-end. They’ll need to continue embracing that mindset, with the feisty Barkey paving his way up the Flyers’ depth chart.

Blue Jackets’ Kent Johnson Out For Season With Torn Labrum

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The Columbus Blue Jackets have placed sophomore forward Kent Johnson on injured reserve and announced he’s expected to miss the remainder of the season, set to undergo surgery to address a torn labrum in his left shoulder. The Blue Jackets also recalled goaltender Jet Greaves on an emergency basis, with Elvis Merzlikins out day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

Johnson suffered the injury in Columbus’ February 28th game against the New York Rangers but he didn’t miss any shifts, playing to the last minute and getting involved in the team’s only goal – though not getting credited with an assist. Johnson was on a 19-game streak without a goal prior to his injury, recording three assists and a -4 in that stretch. His season will now end with just six goals and 16 points in 42 games – a significant step down from the 16 goals and 40 points he managed in 79 games as a rookie last year.

The news of Johnson’s injury is a gut punch to a Blue Jackets lineup already down star rookie Adam Fantilli, who suffered a calf laceration in the team’s January 28th game against the Seattle Kraken. The 2023 third-overall pick will battle to return before the end of season, with his prognosis at the time designating an early April return.

Merzlikins will now miss even more ice time, after losing games to injury and a scratching earlier in the season. He’s served as the team’s de facto starter, recording 12 wins and a .904 save percentage in 35 games. The Blue Jackets will once again need to turn to Daniil Tarasov and Greaves to man the net. Tarasov has a modest .888 in 14 games, while Greaves saved 71 of the 76 shots he’s faced in just two games.

Trade Deadline Primer: Toronto Maple Leafs

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With the All-Star break in the rearview, the trade deadline looms large and is now less than two weeks away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The more things change, the more they stay the same for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Despite parting ways with Kyle Dubas and Jason Spezza this summer, bringing in multiple new faces including Tyler Bertuzzi, Max Domi, and John Klingberg, and receiving modest efforts from multiple goalies – the Leafs once again find themselves in a familiar spot, poised to add at the Trade Deadline to try and bring an oomph behind their star power. But unlike previous years, Toronto is getting hot at the right time, winning 13 of their last 16 games and outscoring opponents 66-to-43. Every piece of the lineup seems to be clicking, with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner paving history, Ilya Samsonov and Joseph Woll one-upping each other in net, and depth options like Calle Jarnkrok making big impacts coming off injured reserve. The Leafs could have enough chemistry to forgo any Deadline action, but they’ll be a favorite for top names if they do get involved.

Record

35-17-8, 3rd in the Atlantic Division

Deadline Status

Buyers on a budget

Deadline Cap Space

$144,166 of cap space on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 48/50 contracts used, per CapFriendly.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2024: TOR 1st, NYI 3rd, TOR 4th, TOR 5th, CGY 5th, VAN 5th, TOR 7th, OTT 7th
2025: TOR 5th, CHI 5th, TOR 6th, TOR 7th

Trade Chips

The Leafs are undeniably positioned as buyers ahead of the Deadline, and their trade chips match that. Leading the list is young winger Nicholas Robertson, who Toronto recently sent to the AHL to make room for Jarnkrok’s return. This season has marked Robertson’s first year in a full-time NHL role but he doesn’t have too much to show for it – managing a modest eight goals and 19 points in 41 games. Much of his ice time has come on the team’s third line, playing alongside either Jarnkrok or John Tavares at center. Robertson has yet to find his groove, despite strong linemates, but Toronto will need him to carry value – as the team has very little draft capital to work with. He joins a long list of promising, but so far unsuccessful, 22-year-olds on the trade market – including Philip Broberg, Arthur Kaliyev, and Kaapo Kakko – and like them, Robertson likely doesn’t yield a major return outright. But he’ll be a focal piece of any package the Leafs put together – with the team hoping his remaining potential is enough to swing a big trade.

If Robertson isn’t enough, it’s likely that Toronto turns towards their strong AHL pipeline before they sell off more draft capital. The Toronto Marlies are having a slow season overall – with a 23-18-11 record ranking them fifth in the AHL’s North Division – but they boast a long list of young talents that could draw interest from around the league. Headlining the list is 6’7” goaltender Dennis Hildeby, who’s managed 13 wins and a .912 save percentage in 28 games this season. It’s Hildeby’s first season in North American pros, though he played his first full pro season last year, when he recorded 11 wins and a .918 in 21 games with the SHL’s Färjestad BK. Hildeby has been a routine call-up this season, but has yet to make his NHL debut. He has loads of untapped potential and, with Woll returning strong from injury and Matt Murray progressing after double hip surgery, teams may be able to convince Toronto to, “sell high”, on the 22-year-old netminder.

The Marlies also boasts swiss-army-knife Alex Steeves, hard-nosed centerman Nicholas Abruzzese, or former seventh-round pick Ryan Tverberg. Steeves leads the bunch in scoring, with 43 points in 46 games, though Tverberg is the youngest of the trio at 22, while Steeves and Abruzzese are 24. The Leafs could even sell off top defensive prospect Topi Niemelä, who leads all Marlies defenders in scoring but hasn’t yet made his NHL debut.

While it’s never ideal to sell off talents before they get a shot at the NHL, it could be all Toronto can part with – with their NHL lineup looking fairly consistent. Backup goaltenders Ilya Samsonov and Martin Jones may end up expendable for the right price, though the Leafs would need to make sure they’ve found a confident starter before dealing away any goalies, including Hildeby. They similarly can’t spare much depth at forward, though the recent hot flashes of Bobby McMann or Pontus Holmberg could entice teams that need a little more certainty headed into the postseason.

Team Needs

1) An Answer On Defense – The Maple Leafs’ questions on defense are just getting tougher as time goes on, with veteran T.J. Brodie beginning to slow down and injuries catching the likes of Ilya Lyubushkin, Jake McCabe, and Timothy Liljegren at one point or another. While the Leafs have managed well through the challenges, they’ve had to rely on the likes of Maxime Lajoie and Marshall Rifai to get there. It’s clear that they’re missing key pieces on the blue line, and rumors have confirmed that they’re looking into the market’s top defenders. This includes top Calgary Flames defenseman Noah Hanifin, who seems near certain to move this Deadline. Hanifin has scored 11 goals – a career-high – and 35 points through 60 games this season. He’s on pace to narrowly fall short of his career-high in points as well, currently scoring at a 47-point pace through 82 games. Toronto is one of many teams involved in Hanifin trade talks – alongside the Arizona Coyotes, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Florida Panthers. But the Leafs may be in the best position to acquire the pending free agent, boasting a first-round pick unlike Florida, and a better short-term outlook than Arizona and Tampa. If the Leafs miss out on Hanifin, their best alternatives will likely be Philadelphia’s Sean Walker or Ottawa’s Jakob Chychrun. Chychrun was notably in trade talks at last year’s Deadline, moving from the Arizona Coyotes to the Ottawa Senators. He’s since managed 11 goals and 38 points in 71 games with the Senators, though their current situation makes him expendable to playoff teams looking for a defensive boost. Chychrun brings strong puck-moving skills, but may not have the defensive punch Toronto could use. That could be the factor that shifts them towards Walker, who’s offered a much more well-rounded skillset this season, while still scoring 22 points in 62 games.

2) Depth For The Playoffs – The Leafs have kicked off their Deadline early, sending a third-and-sixth-round draft pick away in exchange for Ilya Lyubushkin. While that acquisition has been debated, it leans into exactly what Toronto needs – more depth for the playoffs. They’ve boasted a strong minor-league system for many years but continue to fall flat in the postseason, thanks to an overreliance on star names or poorly timed injuries. While acquiring a big-name goaltender like Juuse Saros or Jacob Markstrom – or reeling in a star forward like Pavel Buchnevich or Jake Guentzel – would be certainly exciting, it’d undercut the fantastic talents that already lead Toronto’s lineup. They’d be better off focusing on less discussed Deadline names, like Jordan Eberle or Jack Roslovic – two players that could still manage big impacts in quaint roles. Nick Seeler and Andrew Peeke offer similar value on defense. These options would come at a significantly cheaper price, while still helping the Leafs build a lineup that can reliably drive them deep into the postseason. Toronto is having plenty of success with their current lineup, but any additions should be focused on patching the defense or solidifying their supporting cast – acquisitions that their limited assets will likely limit them to.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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