The Toronto Maple Leafs aren’t afraid to shake things up. They dealt Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights, Ryan Reaves to the San Jose Sharks, and are hungry for more. Reports indicate that the Maple Leafs still want to add some offensive talent to their blueline before the puck drops for game one of the regular season.
Heavy.com has proposed a trade that will do just that. This is a one-for-one deal that would have the Maple Leafs acquire the promising young Brandt Clarke from the Los Angeles Kings.
Maple Leafs Acquire:
- Brandt Clarke ($863,334)
Kings Acquire:
This trade would be significant for both teams. The Maple Leafs would acquire the offensive defender they are looking for, while the Kings make their defense group even more difficult to play against.
In this proposal, the Maple Leafs add Clarke, 22, who was drafted eighth overall in the 2021 entry draft. The 6-foot-2, 200 lb, right-handed defenseman recorded 33 points in 78 games, while averaging 16:17 in ice time per night.
In return for Clarke, the Kings would add Brandon Carlo, 28, a solid defense-first defender. Initially drafted by the Boston Bruins in 2015 (37th overall), Carlo was traded to the Maple Leafs before this past season’s trade deadline. In 83 games, he recorded 12 points, 78 shots, 90 hits, and 157 blocks while averaging 18:53 per game.
Maple Leafs Can Cash in On Kings’ Approach to Brandt Clarke
According to a recent report from RG, Kings’ GM Ken Holland needs to gather more information before deciding what to do with the 22-year-old Clarke.
“I think he’s a really talented guy with a bright future,” Holland said in the piece penned by James Murphy. “Now we’ve got to figure out where it’s going. I’ve got to see him on the ice, and I’ve got to talk to him and have a meeting with him.”
“I know the team, but I don’t know the team.”
Holland is focused on Adrian Kempe‘s expiring contract. That leaves the Kings vulnerable to a trade offer for the young, talented blueliner.
Maple Leafs Can Dangling Carlo
James Mirtle of The Athletic released a report earlier in September about the Maple Leafs looking to add more skill to their blueline.
“They’d like to somehow get another puck mover back there, which would mean moving one of the more defensive types out,” Mirtle wrote on September 2. “My understanding was that Carlo would have only been moved if there was an opportunity to get a real difference-making, top-six winger back.”
“There were rumblings he could have been part of a deal for JJ Peterka,” Mirtle revealed. “Giving the Buffalo Sabres the big right-shot D they were looking for.”
“There would have been more pieces in that deal, but that’s the kind of move that might have made sense.”
Maple Leafs Can Unlock Clarke
With Carlo on the table, receiving Clarke in return makes sense. He can help out a team at his current stage of development, in addition to having more room to grow.
Among all Kings’ defensemen, Clarke performed well in several statistical categories. He ranks first in points (33), fourth in goals (5), first in powerplay points (9), and second in powerplay time on ice (1:47).
Clarke has untapped potential. Adding this young defenseman to a powerplay with Auston Matthews and William Nylander should have any GM curling their moustache.
Maple Leafs Add Talented Defender in New 1-For-1 Trade Pitch