TheLeafsNation Top 25 of 2020: #4 — My (horrible?) idea for a P.K. Subban to the Leafs trade proposal
By Zach Laing
3 years agoWelcome to the yearly wrap up of the top read articles over the last year!
There were tons of rumours that the Leafs have been linked to over the years, but somehow PK Subban has always been in that conversation.
And on Sept. 4, TLN Editor Jon Steitzer took a look at one proposal that could make sense.
It was the fourth most-read article this year.
The proposed deal was this: PK Subban and the Canucks 2020 first for Frederik Andersen, Andreas Johnsson and Travis Dermott. Here’s some of what Steitzer wrote:
So as much as this deal is about acquiring Subban, it’s equally about the Leafs picking up another 1st round pick, giving them even more flexibility at the draft, or enabling them to restock for the future.From the Devils perspective they get a decent defenseman, a decent forward, both of who can play significant minutes for them, and a goaltender that they can test out for the year and potentially flip at the trade deadline if their season goes as expected and they don’t want Andersen back for another year. This might be reaching on my side, but these all seem like pieces the Devils could use.As for the Leafs, they get their coveted right handed defenseman who can play in their top four. His skillset suits him to play with someone like Jake Muzzin, giving the Leafs the opportunity to shelter Rielly against top lines more and play him with Holl in what is still not a completely ideal defensive group, but an upgrade over last season.The Leafs also pick up important hockey trade currency in the form of the lowest 1st round pick owned by the Devils. It’s something the Leafs could flip, but personally something I’d like to see Toronto use in order to address their prospect depth.The catch to this is that the move leaves the Leafs without a starting goaltender, and there will most definitely be a need to address that further with limited cap space. A future move would definitely be required as well, but if the Leafs are in fact making an overhaul of their roster, we shouldn’t be surprised by future moves still being expected.The biggest looming piece from the Leafs perspective might be around if they can get the Devils to retain cap space to help them out further. It seems unlikely, but really doesn’t this entire deal seem unlikely, and frankly a little stupid to you?
On Twitter: @zjlaing
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