Toronto Maple Leafs: 3 potential trades to consider in off-season
By Brad Vos
Finally moving William Nylander for a right-handed defenceman
A good old fashioned one-for-one hockey trade. Both teams improve in the areas that they need to, while dealing from a position of strength once again.
William Nylander is still only 24-years-old and carries a cap hit of $6.96 million for the next four seasons. He has scored 86 NHL goals and recorded 221 points in 307 career games. For as much negativity as there was towards Nylander in the playoffs, he did record four points in five games.
The trouble with Nylander is he plays with very little physicality or desire and seems to disappear for long stretches. Perhaps a change of scenery and a team that is strict in their playing style would be welcome for him.
In Matt Dumba, the Maple Leafs get a top-pairing defenceman which would significantly improve the top-four group including Morgan Rielly and Jake Muzzin. He is slated to make $6 million over the next three years and is hitting his prime as a 26-year-old.
Dumba has recorded 174 points in 411 career games and plays responsibly in his end with a plus-27 career rating. Sure, a lot of that has to do with Minnesota’s style, but he would be a welcome addition to a porous Maple Leafs defence.