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The Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to be busy this offseason, with their goaltending situation in question, the need to clear salary to re-sign pending free agents, add draft choices, and change the composition of their roster after a sixth consecutive early exit.
GM Kyle Dubas has just under $8 million in cap space going into the summer, which means that he will have to make a number of important decisions to improve his club with his job likely on the line.
Today we look at the odds of the club trading some of their forwards:
Alex Kerfoot – 50% Trade, 50% Keep/Buyout/LTIR
Kerfoot to some is the poster child for the Nazem Kadri deal, but that is unfair based on the fact that Kadri had to be traded because of his selfishness in the playoffs. The 27-year-old’s versatility to play both center and wing, in the top six or as a checker, and on special teams has been invaluable the last two seasons, but with one year left on his current deal, it is possible the Leafs could move him with his value high if they want to clear cap space to re-sign Ilya Mikheyev or get younger/cheaper/bigger upfront.
Best Return – young NHL forward or multiple draft picks
William Nylander - 40% Trade, 60% Keep/Buyout/LTIR
This is the move that Dubas has shied away from the last three seasons, but in my opinion, has to make to implement a Kawhi Leonard type of shake-up to the Leafs roster. There is no doubt that Nylander is talented, a good top-six winger and complement to John Tavares, is coming off a career-high 34-goal campaign, and has a team-friendly contract at just under $7 million, but that just means that the potential return for the 26-year-old from a team starving offense is massive.
Toronto needs to address other areas and has to be open to moving Nylander if the return is good enough or if they need to open up the cap space to sign a difference-making free agent.
Best Return – NHL player(s) and/or top prospect(s)
Nick Robertson – 25% Trade, 75% Keep/Buyout/LTIR
The Leafs found a gem late in the second round of the 2019 Draft in Robertson, who led the OHL in goals two years ago, but the 20-year-old has been plagued by injury the last two seasons.
After recovering from a broken leg, Robertson scored 16 goals in 28 AHL games and could be the leading candidate to take the spot of either Kerfoot or Mikheyev in the top six, but he could also be the price demanded from Toronto in a trade for a goaltender or righty defenseman.
Best Return – NHL player(s) as part of a package deal
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Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
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