Question raised about whether or not the Leafs can afford to move a top-4 blueliner
The Leafs have used 12 different defensemen so far this season and to everyone's surprise, it hasn't mattered who they have had in the lineup. Regardless of who's been in, they have played very well defensively. Mark Giordano and Justin Holl are the only two to not miss any time due to injury and now that the Leafs are nearly fully healthy on the back end, there was a question raised about potentially trading one of their current top-4 to clear some cap space.
The Leafs have always been high on Holl, and he has played well alongside Giordano and the newly acquired Conor Timmins, who finds himself as the odd man out with the return of Rasmus Sandin, has also played very well since being acquired from Arizona and probably deserves to be in the lineup. Along with the steady play of Jordie Benn when he has been called upon, the Leafs have at least 9 NHL caliber defensemen.
With that being said, what if the Leafs traded T.J. Brodie? With a year and a half remaining at $5M per season, it would clear a ton of cap space for the Leafs. Not only that but if the Leafs are so high on Holl and Timmins and Liljegren on the right side, it almost makes Brodie expendable - if that's even possible.
Personally, I wouldn't do it, just because of the amount of injuries the Leafs have dealt with and the fact he is one of the best and most underrated stay-at-home blueliners in the league. Still, the question has been raised. So, how would you feel if the Leafs chose to move Brodie in light of the stellar play of the team's defense while he and others were sidelined?
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 3 | 330 ANSWERS Question raised about whether or not the Leafs can afford to move a top-4 blueliner How would you feel if the Leafs moved T.J. Brodie to open up $5M in cap space, given how well the team's defense corps has played this year? | ||
| I'd hate it | 113 | 34.2 % |
| I'd be fine with it | 65 | 19.7 % |
| It really would depend on the return | 152 | 46.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
