The Toronto Maple Leafs appear to be going for it all.
The Buds currently sit second in the Atlantic division with a 28-15-2 record and are reportedly looking to add a piece at the deadline. But as every hockey fan understands, you usually need to give up a piece in order to acquire one, and this time around the Maple Leafs are willing to give up a lot to get what they want.
According to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, the Maple Leafs are open to trading their first round pick “for the right price.” LeBrun mentioned that the pick would be in play “in the right package” for a top-four defenceman, though it’s dependent on what else would be included in a trade.
Here’s the entire excerpt from TSN’s Insider Trading:
LeBrun: The Maple Leafs are at least willing to include their first-round pick for this year, which is obviously quite a departure for an organization that has been building up to this moment. But that's just it, they've been building up to the moment where they're now ready to contend for the Stanley Cup. Some of the teams that I've talk to, their understanding is that in the right package for a top-four defenceman, the Leafs would listen to including that first-round pick as part of the package. Obviously, that would include on whoever else the Leafs would be dealing in that package. If the potential roster player or prospect is of a higher degree, then maybe the first-round pick isn't in play. It really depends on the package at large, but that first-round pick could move in that type of deal.
TSN’s Darren Dreger also iterated the Leafs desire to add to their blue line. Despite a rough game on Monday night against the Colorado Avalanche, Dreger confirmed that Toronto is not looking to move Jake Gardiner or any d-man and “are going to consider re-signing him.” However, he mentioned that Gardiner’s asking price may be too high.
The following is an excerpt from TSN's Insider Trading:
Dreger: The Maple Leafs are looking to add on the blue line, they're not looking to subtract. Even though there were a number of Maple Leafs fans that would have happily driven to the airport to get rid of him on Monday night afterthe loss and his poor performance, the reality is that the Leafs intend on using Gardiner as an own rental. They're going to consider re-signing him, but the ask is likely going to be too rich as a pending unrestricted free agent. And if he's a 50-point defenceman, he's going to command upwards of $6 million or beyond that. Again, it's about adding to the blue line in Toronto, not subtracting regardless of the slump that Gardiner appears to be in right now.
The Leafs have actually held their own, tied for fifth with just 128 goals against this season but clearly management is looking for more. It will be interesting to see how things shake out in just over a month’s time.
The deadline is on February 25 at 3 PM Eastern Time.
(H/T Pierre LeBrun)
