Several players the Toronto Maple Leafs may consider moving
Adam Proto of The Hockey News: Elliot Friedman reports the Toronto Maple Leafs are looking to make a hockey trade rather than give up futures (draft picks or top prospects). The core and some key players aren’t going anywhere, a group that could include forwards Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares, Matthew Nines, Nicholas Roy, Scott Laughton and Steven Lorenz, defensemen Chris Tanev, Jake McCabe and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and goalies Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Wall.
Defenseman Morgan Rielly has a no-walk clause, but would he consider waiving it? How about Erik Karlsson’s Rielly or Dougie Hamilton’s Rielly?
Forward Max Domi has a 13-team no-trade clause and could be a trade option. The same goes for guard Brandon Carlo, who has eight teams without a trade.
General manager Brad Treliving acknowledges Maple Leafs’ woes, challenges players to get better
Other forwards available include Caleb Jarnkrok, Nick Robertson, Bobby McMahon and Dakota Joshua. Robertson has been playing well lately, so you can sell at a high price. Everyone else is a bottom-six forward with little value.
This is a seller’s market
Marco D’Amico of RG Media: There are teams dealing with injuries and looking at the trade market, but it’s a seller’s market waiting for mistakes.
“Teams are waiting for someone to make a mistake and overpay for their players,” an NHL source said. “There are very few identifiable sellers at the moment.”
According to sources, acquiring a top-nine center would be expensive and difficult.
“Trading a top-nine center right now is going to be very expensive because there are so few centers available in reality,” the source continued. “The NHL’s parity in the standings makes it very difficult to add a player via trade without sacrificing the existing NHL roster.”
The Calgary Flames are a team that may have some options — Nazeem Kadri, Rasmus Andersen and Blake Coleman — but they don’t need to move them now unless they’re happy with an offer, the source added.
NHL Rumors: All the Chatter but No Moves
The Toronto Maple Leafs are looking for a top-four defenseman with some offensive chops. The Vancouver Canucks are looking for a second-line center. The team is calling the St. Louis Blues and Nashville Predators to see if they’re willing to do anything. The Blues are looking to make a “hockey trade” and improve their Blues roster.
One source said if Michael Misa plays his 10th game, they will need to move a contract because they already have 50 contracts.
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