An ideal Leafs target may actually be available at the deadline despite being near a point-per-game and making less than $1M
As a contending team, the Leafs are going to make some additions at this year's trade deadline - of that, we can be certain. However, just how impactful those additions are will certainly be limited by the salary cap.
Pretty much every player the Leafs have been linked to thus far this season, including the likes of Ryan O'Reilly, Patrick Kane, Bo Horvat and Jakob Chychrun, contain reasonably large cap hits, which could make it tough for the Leafs to get the player or players that they want unless teams retain salary or a contract is moved out in Toronto.
There is one player, however, who fits what the Leafs need to tee; Vancouver Canucks winger Andrei Kuzmenko. The 26-year-old has produced 35 points in 38 games for the Canucks thus far this season and contains a cap hit of just $950K, which can be easily absorbed by the Leafs without having to worry about paying additional assets for the Canucks to retain any salary. The big question is; will Kuzmenko be available at the deadline?
According to TSN's Pierre LeBrun during Tuesday's edition of "Insider Trading", the Canucks and Kuzmenko have not had any talks surrounding a possible extension. LeBrun also revealed that teams are calling the Canucks on the productive winger.
"There haven't been any contract negotiations [between the Canucks and Kuzmenko], although the expectation is that should happen within the month here, but what's interesting of course is that teams are calling. Why wouldn't they be? He's got a [low] cap hit. Teams that are going for it, that are a contender, have almost no cap room � he would fit the bill both in terms of what he can do offensively and the fact he doesn't take up a lot of room on the cap. But for now, the Canucks aren't even sure they want to move him. They want to try and see if they can sign him. I think the price starts at at least $6 million per year on a bridge deal for Kuzmenko to stay in Vancouver, where by all accounts he is quite happy."
For now, the Leafs have not yet been officially linked to Kuzmenko, but if he becomes available, I find it hard to believe that Kyle Dubas won't at least call the Canucks to kick tires on what it might cost to acquire him.
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 10 | 131 ANSWERS An ideal Leafs target may actually be available at the deadline despite being near a point-per-game and making less than $1M Should the Leafs pursue a trade for Andrei Kuzmenko? | ||
| Yes, he's the perfect piece for them | 38 | 29 % |
| No, we need a bigger fish | 55 | 42 % |
| Don't care, just win | 38 | 29 % |
| List of polls | ||
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