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Toronto Maple Leafs: Should they consider a trade for Sami Vatanen?

By James Reeve

May 14, 2017; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Sami Vatanen (45) attempts a shot against the Nashville Predators during the first period in game two of the Western Conference Final of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
May 14, 2017; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Sami Vatanen (45) attempts a shot against the Nashville Predators during the first period in game two of the Western Conference Final of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /
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With the Toronto Maple Leafs searching for a right-handed defenceman, Sami Vatanen has emerged as a possible trade target.

Both Sportsnet and The Hockey News have recently written about how Sami Vatanen would fit in well with the Toronto Maple Leafs and how he could be a cheaper trade option, given the Anaheim Ducks having many difficult decisions to make ahead of the Expansion Draft.

The 26-year-old from Finland is a right-handed, puck-moving defenceman that fits the mould of what head coach Mike Babcock is looking to add to his team.

Vatanen is also a solid top-four player that registered an average of 21:40 minutes on the ice for the Ducks last season.

He is not the biggest points producer, with 24 (three goals and 21 assists) in 71 regular season games played this past season, but his defensive play is much more valuable to a team stacked with high scoring forwards and the offensively minded Morgan Rielly and Jake Gardiner along the blue line.

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He has an annual cap hit of $4.875 million over the next three seasons, keeping him locked down and not needing to renew before the likes of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander.

A modified no trade clause will also kick in after next season, providing him with extra security within the team.

But what would a trade for Vatanen be like for the Leafs?

The Hockey News believe it could be fairly inexpensive for the Leafs, with the Ducks likely needing to shift one or two of their existing players, if they don’t want to lose them for nothing in the expansion draft.

The Ducks have four players with non-movement clauses, including 35-year-old defenceman Kevin Bieksa.

Anaheim needs to move some players, with significantly less room to protect than other teams, and a defenceman is likely to be the first position they look at. The team is stacked along the blue line with the likes of Vatanen, Bieksa, Hampus Lindholm, Cam Fowler and even Josh Manson.

If the Leafs traded the Ducks a key player, such as James van Riemsdyk, this wouldn’t help the California team’s expansion plans and the more likely solution is for prospects and draft picks.

The Leafs have an abundance of point-producing wingers both in the NHL and in the minors and a package deal including one or two of them as well as a pick could be enough for Anaheim to send Vatanen the other way.

Anaheim gets a couple of promising young players they don’t need to protect for expansion, a pick and they get to focus on protecting other important players on their team. For the Leafs, they get a solid top-four defenceman who can play over 20 minutes a night and they reduce a headache that is becoming the Leafs’ winger position.

With so many talented players vying to make the NHL, there is a big chance that many will not be able to achieve this for the Leafs and trades to pastures new are likely to come. So why not start with a trade that can seriously help the Leafs in the long-term?

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What do you think about the possibility of the Toronto Maple Leafs trading for Sami Vatanen? What package would you offer for him? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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