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Moore called up,potential returns in Nylander deal (Pt.I);Leafs vs Penguins |
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After having a tough time scoring goals and losing four of their last five games on home ice, the Toronto Maple Leafs take to the road to face the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena on Saturday.
The Leafs are averaging over five goals per game and are a perfect 5-0 on the road, but they have just 16 goals in eight games at Scotiabank Arena (two goals per game) and have the most regulation losses on home ice in the NHL.
In the wake of the injury to Auston Matthews, head coach Mike Babcock indicated earlier in the week that he would not be calling anyone up to take his place and that he would go with the 12 active forwards on the 23-man roster.
After a pair of listless and inconsistent performances against Calgary and Dallas, the Leafs have called up winger Trevor Moore from the AHL Toronto Marlies.
Moore impressed the Leafs hierarchy at training camp after being one of the Marlies best forwards in their run to the Calder Cup last season and leads the club with 12 points (8 goals, 4 assists) in 10 games after a two-point performance in a 7-6 shootout loss to Cleveland on Friday.
The 23-year-old will have to wait to make his NHL debut, as Babcock indicated that the only change to the Toronto lineup will be the return of Igor Ozhiganov in place of Justin Holl against the Penguins. Frederik Andersen will make his seventh straight start for the Leafs, while Matt Murray is expected to be between the pipes for Pittsburgh.
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As the days progress towards the December 1 signing deadline, most observers of the ongoing William Nylander situation believe that while the Leafs and the restricted free agent reaching an agreement on a new deal is still possible, the chances of the 22-year-old winger being traded are growing.
Unless there is some major capitulation on one side or the other on the price point of a long term deal, the most likely compromise would be a two-year bridge deal, but if GM Kyle Dubas can reach no accord with agent Lewis Gross and he is receptive to trading Nylander in the next few weeks, what can the Leafs expect to get in return???
Here is who would likely be on the Leafs wish list and some trade speculation using the four teams that Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman indicated earlier this week could be involved in a Nylander trade:
Carolina: - Brett Pesce and either Teuvo Teravainen(RFA after 2018-19) or Michael Ferland(UFA after 2018-19) for Nylander, Andreas Johnsson and Justin Holl.
The 23-year-old Pesce offers a number of things that the Leafs would covet on defense; cost certainty ($4.025 Million until 2023-24), size (6’3”, 200 lb) and a right-hand shot to help strengthen the club’s weak right side. The only potential downside is that Pesce does not generate a ton of offense (averaging 18 pts. the last three seasons), but he could possibly be a good fit with Morgan Rielly on the top pairing.
With the regular presence of Hurricane scouts in Toronto the last few weeks, it is likely that any deal with Carolina would be multiplayer and could be looking for an inexpensive retainable option on the wing like Johnsson or Josh Leivo in exchange for wingers (Teravainen, Ferland) who will be eligible for arbitration or unrestricted free agency next summer.
Philadelphia - Shayne Gostisbehere for Nylander
The attractive quality about Gostisbehere is he is under contract for another four seasons at a very reasonable $4.5 Million AAV. The Flyers are loaded with young defensemen in Travis Sanheim, Robert Hagg, Phillippe Myers and the untouchable Ivan Provorov.
Coming off a career-high 65 point season, Gostisbehere’s value will never be higher. The Flyers could see Nylander as a center rather than a scoring winger, which gives them options with a current top two of Sean Couturier and Nolan Patrick.
If Philadelphia is more willing to deal someone less established such as Sanheim, a trade would have to be larger and potentially include someone like pending UFA and GTA native Wayne Simmonds, whose role may be replaced by former Leaf James van Riemsdyk.
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Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
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