Équipe: 2022-23 Maple Leafs de Toronto

Date de création initiale: 7 janv. 2023

Publié: 9 janv. 2023

Mode - plafond salarial: Basique

For their stretch run to the Stanley Cup last season, Colorado acquired Josh Manson for a 2022 second round draft pick and an A prospect defenseman, and Artturi Lehkonen for a 2023 second round draft pick and an A prospect defenseman. Using those trades as a model, I'm picking up some depth personnel at similar prices.

Adam Henrique would be a valuable addition for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to his faceoff skill, his ability to play anywhere in the top 3 lines at either C or LW, and the additional year left on his contract at a cheaper rate than Alex Kerfoot. (Henrique has 21 points in 39 games -- 2 more than Kerfoot, but he plays 18 and a half minutes per game vs. Kerfoot's 15.) He might enjoy renewing his acquaintance with John Tavares and finishing up his career near his birthplace.

Noel Acciari would be another useful but economical acquisition. Like Henrique, he can play both center and wing, and has a 52.9% face-off win percentage. He has 16 points (9 goals) in less than 14 minutes of average ice time. He'd be the perfect complement to ZAR and Holmberg on the fourth line. And there's a good chance he can be re-signed next summer to a reasonable contract for bottom-6 duty.

Contrary to many earlier ACGMs, now that Winnipeg has proven to be a legitimate contender this season, I think that they'll be buyers at the trade deadline, and Alex Kerfoot should be an attractive pickup at 50% retention.

Note that this construction does NOT require trading Pierre Engvall or Justin Holl. In fact, an alternative is to trade Engvall INSTEAD of Kerfoot.

Also note that Clifford, Simmonds and Gaudette are on the Non-Roster for emergencies, as well as all of the prospects (including Matthew Knies).

As you can see, I'm not a big believer in the Horvat/Kane/Konecny/Meier/O'Reilly/Chychrun strategy for the Maple Leafs.

[Abruzzese, Steeves or Villeneuve can be substituted in the Acciari trade, as the respective GMs agree.]

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