JUST-IN: Five bottom six forwards Leafs currently consider acquiring

The Leafs are amidst a useful month of December as they move up the standings and wind up inside striking scope of getting the Bruins for the best position.

Indeed, even with things going flawlessly of late, that doesn’t mean they ought not be thinking about the master plan in ways of making them far superior. Brad Treliving is clearly looking to strengthen the defense, as evidenced by their recent interest in Chris Tanev and Sean Walker; that ought to be their essential concentrate right now before they consider some other m0ves.

The Leafs’ bottom six should be their next priority after they have made their move to improve defense. With Ryan Reaves being an obligation each time he steps on the ice and Bobby McMann not yet procuring the trust of the training staff, Toronto definitely should investigate getting an outer choice to give an alternate component to the third and fourth lines.

Fortunately for them, there are a lot of players for them to think about that fit their requirements and won’t burn through every last dollar as far as resources gave up. In the weeks leading up to the deadline for trades, the Leafs should keep these five options in mind.

Alexey Toropchenko I wrote over a month ago that Toropchenko is a player I should think about, and since that post went up, my belief that he is a player high on my list of potential targets has only grown.

The Russian winger, who stands 6’6″ and weighs 222 pounds, brings a lot to the table that would significantly boost the bottom six. Toropchenko is a person who will give it his generally each and every shift, being a hazard on the forecheck and doling out hits each opportunity he can. He is solid protectively because of his more extended reach and his fast skating comparative with his size, making him a reliable choice at even strength and under-staffed. He has occasionally shown glimpses of offensive potential that remains untapped.

The best part isn’t just does he actually have space to develop given that he is just 24, he has a sensible cap hit of $1.25 million that runs until the following year and will stay a RFA. Toropchenko won’t come modest thus and pay should be moved the alternate method for making it work, however everything will work out in light of the fact that it would be an overhaul that would help them this year and then some.

Despite the fact that he is not a household name among hockey fans right now, the Leafs should take a look at him because he is a well-known Toropchenko truther who has a lot to like about his game.

Oskar Sundqvist

Staying with the Blues, another player that could open up in the weeks paving the way to the cutoff time is Sundqvist.

Sundqvist, like Toropchenko, is a man with a lot of energy who stands out every time he steps onto the ice. The essential distinction is that he is more settled, comes at a less expensive cap hit, and understands the stuff to win given his two Stanley Cups. He presently drives all Blues advances in blocks with 24 and is seventh in the group in hits with 34 (six behind Toropchenko in that class). You can count on him surpassing 20 points every year, with the exception of the 2021 COVID-shortened season. This season, he has 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in 30 games.

The 6’3″ Swedish place won’t burn through every last cent on the exchange market as he was managed last season for just a fourth-round pick. Treliving would likely just have to give up a fourth or a fifth-round pick to get his administrations and accommodating his compensation would be direct by virtue of him making $775K this season. The Leafs have a lot of good reasons to acquire Sundqvist, whether as part of a larger deal or by themselves.

Yakov Trenin

A great deal of Leafs fans of late have been featuring Trenin as an ideal exchange focus for the last six. Seeing why is not hard: he scratches off a ton of the containers that the group may search for.

The forthcoming UFA has laid down a good foundation for himself as a hard-hitting forward who is dependable protectively and is a compelling punishment executioner. Trenin’s offensive potential is limited, but he is a solid shutdown forward who is worth having on the ice late in a game to defend a lead. He is likewise really flexible since he can move to the center of the ice when absolutely necessary and has progress in taking faceoffs. Since he has a cap hit of $1.7 million, bringing him into the fold would not be difficult because it would likely only require bringing in a roster player with a salary that is comparable to his own.

Although it all depends on how the Predators fare in the weeks leading up to the deadline because they currently sit comfortably in a playoff spot, he certainly would be an intriguing target on the market. As a result, a deal is unlikely right now. However, if Nashville drops out of the playoff picture and starts selling assets, Trenin should be someone the Leafs should talk to.

Luke Kunin

Many individuals expected the Sharks would complete close to the lower part of the NHL standings and they are well headed to further developing their lottery chances. That implies it might involve time before San Jose starts off the fire offer of their tradeable resources, and one player that could wind up on the block is Kunin.

He has been desolated by wounds all through his vocation yet has been a trustworthy two-way forward who can play each of the three positions when sound. Kunin has forever been poised to keep around 20 focuses in the seasons abbreviated because of diseases, which is the creation rate you would anticipate from a fourth-line player. This is a person who skates pretty well, has a respectable shot, and has areas of strength for an ethic that will make him perceptible each time he ventures onto the ice. That sort of energy and persistence is dependably a welcome expansion to the last six and that would cause him somebody you would to feel happy with playing in all circumstances.

The essential thing neutralizing a potential Kunin exchange separated from his sturdiness is his cap hit of $2.75 million. While the Sharks might be available to holding pay, he will be a RFA at season’s end and that would make the asking value significantly higher than it in any case would be for a UFA. However, if his health permits, this man, who is in his middle years, could be an intriguing pickup.

Adam Henrique Henrique possesses everything necessary to be one of the top targets at the trade deadline this season: He has a solid two-way game, is an established center, and his contract is up.

He is capable of comfortably playing in any situation or position that is asked of him, has consistently maintained advanced numbers above 50%, and can finish a season with around 40 points. Henrique’s presence would be a critical lift to the last six since he would give them a wide range of line blends and not watch awkward. Even though he has only made it twice to the playoffs in his career, he has a talent for stepping up in crucial moments, having scored two goals that won the series.

Due to his large salary cap of $5.825 million, he would be the most expensive of the options on this list and almost certainly require a third party to close a deal. However, Herique would be an excellent addition that could yield immediate dividends in terms of rentals.