The Toronto Maple Leafs have a need for another top-six forward, and they could look at the trade market to address it.
Heavy.com has a trade idea that sees the Maple Leafs acquiring Brett Howden from the Vegas Golden Knights in a blockbuster deal.
Maple Leafs acquire:
Golden Knights acquire:
The proposed deal would be a blockbuster as it would be a one-for-one swap that makes sense for both teams. Toronto needs a top-six forward and more scoring, while Vegas could use a shutdown defenseman, so the swap makes sense as both teams would trade from an area of need to address a weakness.
The Maple Leafs would acquire Howden, who is a center but could move to the wing and be the second-line left winger, which is a need. Howden would add some much-needed offense to the roster, as last season, he recorded 23 goals and 17 assists for 40 points in 80 games. He had 3 goals in 11 playoff games last season. He’s entering the first year of a five-year, $12.5 million deal, so it would be an affordable contract for Toronto to take on.
The Golden Knights would acquire Carlo, who would fill a major need on Vegas’ defense. The Maple Leafs have a surplus of defenseman, and Carlo’s name has come up in trade rumors. Carlo is entering the fifth year of his six-year, $24.6 million deal. With Alex Pietrangelo’s career likely over, Vegas needs another defenseman, and Carlo would fill a need. Carlo recorded 1 goal and 11 assists for 12 points in 83 games last season.
Maple Leafs Could Trade Carlo for a Top-6 Forward
Toronto has a clear need for a top-six forward and could trade a defenseman to acquire one.
The Maple Leafs have nine NHL-caliber defenseman in Carlo, Chris Tanev, Morgan Rielly, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Jake McCabe, Simon Benoit, Henry Thurn, Philippe Myers, and Matt Benning.
With that, Toronto could trade one of them, and NHL insider Nick Kypreos named Carlo as a potential trade candidate to acquire a scoring forward.
“It may be hard to believe the Leafs would trade away Carlo so soon after paying a steep price to acquire him,” Kypreos wrote. “But the fact is Toronto doesn’t have many assets to make a deal with. Right-shot, minute-munching defensemen will always have a market in the NHL and so Carlo is the one trade chip that could command a lot of attention. He could be part of a deal that adds some scoring to the forward group as they recover from the loss of Mitch Marner.”
Carlo would have a good trade value, making him a likely trade candidate for the Maple Leafs.
Carlo Would Replace Pietrangelo
Although trading away Howden would be tough, Vegas would acquire Carlo, who fills a need better.
The Golden Knights have plenty of forwards, but Vegas needs a defenseman after Pietrangelo’s career is likely over.
This offseason, Pietrangelo announced he was stepping away from hockey and it’s unlikely he will be able to play again.
“The past few years have been very challenging on my physical well-being, and I am in a difficult position with my overall playing health,” said Pietrangelo. “After exploring options with doctors as well as my family, it’s been advised to remove the intensity of hockey to see if my body can improve so that I can return to a normal quality of life. This decision has been difficult to come to terms with after the last 17 years of competition and the camaraderie with my teammates and coaches. The likelihood is low that my body will recover to the standard required to play, but I know this is the right decision for me and my family.”
Pietrangelo won two Stanley Cups in his career.
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