Toronto Maple Leafs: Five logical trade partners to help improve the team

Vancouver Canucks

There is only one player on the Canucks that would be an ideal fit for the Leafs and that is Chris Tanev. He is not a flash player which is the type of defenceman that the Leafs are looking for.

He is a sound positional player in his own end and is not a risky player when it comes to his decision making. An added bonus is that he has played with Morgan Rielly at the World Championship so there is familiarity.

Obviously the pairing with Rielly and Ron Hainsey has worked out well this season but it might work out better to have Hainsey help a young player like Andreas Borgman. Tanev could also give Hainsey a bit of a break on the penalty kill.

In the offseason, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said that teams were calling on Tanev but they were asking a high price. Vancouver has made strides under new head coach Travis Green but they are not at a level to be considered a contender.

Tanev would be their best trade asset and at 27-years-old with two-years left on his contract, the Canucks would be wasting his prime years in the time where they are not in a position to compete.

Since the team are in no position to move Tanev, the price might be too high for the Leafs to acquire him but there is a potential fit.