Toronto Maple Leafs: 6 ideal forwards to target at trade deadline

Toronto Maple Leafs trade deadline target: Rickard Rakell

Like Forsberg, Rickard Rakell would provide the Leafs with an immediate upgrade despite not putting up the production we are used to seeing from him.

Anaheim is entering a transitional period and will need to decide whether keeping Rakell around makes sense for them or if they need to prioritize a youth movement. It also helps that Rakell has a desirable $3,789,444 cap hit for this season and next.

Like a trade for Forsberg, Kerfoot’s $3.5 million salary makes sense for Toronto to move in a potential deal while adding a conditional pick that hinges on how the Leafs do in the playoffs plus a lower-tier prospect like Hirvonen or Semyon Der-Arguchintsev.

Even then, that is a questionable return on a deal for Rakell but this is the type of player that fits the Leafs competitive window. The Ducks might have to come to the conclusion that Rakell’s declining offensive ability doesn’t make him as valuable as a player like Forsberg but that won’t stop them from asking for a big return in a trade.