Panel discusses who the best fit actually is for the Leafs at the deadline; it's not who you might think
On a live segment on NHL Network, Jackie Redmond, Mike Johnson, and Mike Rupp were responding to questions live on air and one that popped up was in reference to the Toronto Maple Leafs trade deadline strategy. The question was "which player would be best fit for Leafs at the deadline?".
This has been beaten like a drum over the last few weeks but with a team that is sitting second in the division and third in the NHL, on top of the fact that they desperately need to win a playoff series with the cast and crew they have, the trade deadline is going to be a hot bed for chaos and conversation.
Mike Johnson mentions how it is brought up a lot and defensemen are a top priority for every contending team heading into the trade deadline but what would put them over the top would be finding a top-6 winger to solidify their group.
"So this is a conversation that happens a lot in Toronto, we need defensemen, we need rugged, we need Gavrikov, we need Scott Mayfield, like a big physical defender and they would probably like one of those but what they need more is a top-6 winger."
He lists the obvious choice in Timo Meier since he is the biggest name currently on the market, he is only 26 years of age, is a two-time 30-goal scorer and on pace for a lot more this year, but due to the price of acquisition and what it would cost to keep him around, Johnson believes that Ivan Barbashev could be the missing piece.
"Underrated guy... Barbashev. That guy on a good team with good players on an affordable contract, I think he scored 26 last year. Pretty strong physical guy and he makes like 2.5 million dollars. He's the perfect kind of fit, price, skill, and a guy they can realistically get."
Mike Rupp added: "I saw Barbashev's name... and every playoff team will be calling on this guy if St. Louis is not looking like it's gonna get in... he can play top-6, he can score goals, he's rugged, he's tough, he finishes hits, special teams, he can do a little bit of everything. That would be a perfect fit for Toronto."
Barbashev currently has 9 goals and 24 points in 51 games for the struggling St. Louis Blues. He is coming off a season where he scored 26 goals and 60 points in 81 games and has 77 goals and 173 points over the course of 402 games in a span of 7 seasons.
The Russian winger currently plays on the second line with Noel Acciari and Vladimir Tarasenko and is on the second power play unit with Justin Faulk at the point. The Blues have disappointed this season and are 8 points out of the final wild card spot. The Colorado Avalanche are holding onto that spot right now but have 3 games in hand on the Blues - in other words, barring a miraculous run, they will most likely be selling at the deadline.
Barabshev is 27 years of age and is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season but only carries a cap hit of $2.25 million, which can be easy for the Maple Leafs to take on at full pop.
| POLL | ||
5 FEVRIER | 321 ANSWERS Panel discusses who the best fit actually is for the Leafs at the deadline; it's not who you might think Is Ivan Barbashev the missing piece in Toronto? | ||
| Yes | 121 | 37.7 % |
| No | 200 | 62.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
