Toronto Maple Leafs: Three Players the Leafs Should Target in Trades

Oct 5, 2013; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; An actor wearing the jersey of former Toronto Maple Leafs player Wendel Clark (17) dances in the aisle during a timeout as fans react against the Ottawa Senators at the Air Canada Centre. The Maple Leafs beat the Senators 5-4 in the shootout. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

Toronto Maple Leafs should target Alexandre Burrows, Dustin Brown, and Travis Zajac in trade

The Toronto Maple Leafs are fast approaching their preseason schedule. With Kyle Dubas and his analytics crew hard at work clearing the Corsi deadwood from the roster, it’s time to start thinking about which players the Leafs should target in trade.

Since the end of last season, the Leafs have released, traded, or bought out seven of their twelve worst Corsi% skaters; Jerred Smithson, Jerry D’Amigo, Jay McClement, Carl Gunnarsson, Nikolai Kulemin, Tim Gleason, and Paul Ranger.

Right now, it’s all about analytics for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

With advanced stats in mind, which skaters should/could the Leafs target in trade? Let’s take a look at the top three candidates.

*Note: The Toronto Maple Leafs are right up against the cap. These trades assume the Leafs would deal away some contract and/or bury someone in the AHL.