Leafs willing to part ways with Kadri and Kapanen

With the 2019 NHL Draft happening tomorrow in Vancouver, the Leafs are in constant discussion throughout the league and two key names have come up recently in trade talks.

It was already going to be a wild couple of weeks for the Leafs — the possibility of a Marner offer sheet and negotiating with his team, as well as trying to improve at the draft — but now there will be more names added to those rumours.

According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, the Leafs will listen in on offers for forwards Nazem Kadri and Kasperi Kapanen.

In both of these deals, the Leafs will be looking for NHL players back, no future assets, according to Dreger. Toronto will be looking to fill their current hole on the blue line with a trade involving the 22-year-old Kapanen, while a centre will be the hopeful return for Kadri.

Kapanen is currently a restricted free agent, in need of his first contract after his entry-level deal expired. With Marner taking up a major portion of the contract negotiation news, there has been no updates on his current situation. On the ice, Kapanen shone while he replaced the absent Nylander next to Auston Matthews earlier in the season, but later his production fell off after being demoted down the lineup.

When it comes to Kadri, the idea of trading the 28 year old centre is highly controversial. He has been here through the highs and lows of recent Leafs history, but his three years left at only a $4.5-million cap hit provides extremely high value for other contending teams. While he has been able to provide offensive depth, a bonafide top-4 defenceman that shoots right, coming back in a deal involving Kadri is enticing.

As Dreger adds, the consistent rumour throughout this offseason has been a Connor Brown trade, most likely heading too Edmonton. There have been reports earlier that there was already a deal that would send the 25 year old to the Oilers at the trade deadline, but was later rejected.

This weekend will involve a Leafs trade and you can almost bet on it. There are several players rumoured to be shopped around and linked to Toronto — with all 31 general managers in the same room, discussions will be had.

With only 280 characters to deal with, Dreger had to add an update on the Marner situation. The two parties will reportedly meet over the draft weekend in Vancouver, but it is uncertain if official offers will be on the table.

It appears that GM Kyle Dubas has almost every player on his team available, besides from a couple of the significant and elite names.

There will be transactions, which is the best part of following sports.