The return that the Leafs would need in order to move their top prospects is high
With the trade deadline coming up and the Leafs being expected to make a big splash, some of the organization's top prospects may end up being dealt. As tough of a pill as it would be to swallow to lose top picks and prospects, moving these pieces may get the Leafs closer to a Cup in 2022. Anyone is available if the price is right, but here's how I'd approach some of the Leafs prospects heading into the deadline if I was Kyle Dubas.
ONLY FOR THE RIGHT PRICE:
There's two prospects in the Leafs organization who should only be moved if they are getting one of the top targets such as Jakob Chychrun at the deadline. These two prospects are Rasmus Sandin and Matthews Knies. Sandin has looked really good with the Leafs. He can skate, he can shoot, he can make plays under pressure, he can quarterback a powerplay and he's added some physicality to his game. He isn't quite ready for top-4 minutes yet, but he's close enough where unless the Leafs are bringing in a superstar defender with term, Sandin shouldn't be moved.
Knies has climbed up the ladder in the Leafs prospect system very rapidly. The Leafs' 2021 second round pick was had a great season with the University of Minnesota. He's one of the NCAA's best forwards and his play earned him a spot on Team USA at both the World Juniors and Olympics. The 6'3 power forward has the potential to be a force in the Leafs' top 6 and is someone the team should be doing everything possible to keep.
POSSIBLE BUT UNLIKELY TO MOVE:
Three Leafs prospects who I'd be more inclined to move at the deadline are Topi Niemela, Nick Robertson, and Timothy Liljegren. Niemela is a bit of a mystery. He's having a great year in Finland, but he's signed a 1-year extension with his SM-Liiga club and will remain overseas until at least 2023. He's shown flashes of brilliance and could be one of the steals of the 2020 draft. Could the Leafs perhaps sell high on him in order to get a player to help them this season? If they do give up Niemela, they'll likely be targeting someone with term remaining.
Nick Robertson has looked good in limited NHL games this year. At times, he looks like he belongs in the team's top-6, but other times his spot in the lineup is questionable. Sheldon Keefe clearly doesn't trust Robertson enough and it seems likely that he won't crack the playoff roster. Of course, there's plenty of time for that to change down the stretch. Moving on from Robertson would be a dagger through the heart for a lot of Leafs fans, but if it fetches the Leafs the top-4 defender they need or an upgrade in the top-6 on the wing, Dubas should probably pull the trigger.
Liljegren is in the same boat. At times, he's looked really good for the Leafs but more often than not, he's someone the camera instantly pans to after a goal against. LIljegren has shown some offensive upside, but the offensive abilities aren't good enough to make up for his defensive lapses. He's still young and was a first round pick in 2017. As a right-handed defender, Liljegren would have value to a team and although he may be a top-4 defenseman in the future, he's not there yet. If the Leafs can get a player that they hope Liljegren could be in the future they should consider moving on from their 2017 first round pick.
2020 1st round pick Rodion Amirov has been left off this list for obvious reasons. All of Leafs Nation is pulling for Amirov in his battle against cancer.
Moving on from top prospects is not something any fanbase gets excited about, but knowing that it could help Kyle Dubas fetch a player that helps them get through the glass ceiling and finally see some playoff success with this group might be a price worth paying.
The Leafs' ability to draft outside of the first round is another reason that moving on from these prospects could be an easier pill to swallow. They've shown the ability to find hidden gems beyond the first round, which could make moving one or more prospects who are close to NHL-ready or already NHL-ready more palatable.
At the end of the day, this is about winning a Cup. If moving a player gives you a better chance to win a Cup, you have to at least consider it.
| POLL | ||
MARS 12 | 275 ANSWERS The return that the Leafs would need in order to move their top prospects is high Would you move Matthew Knies in a package to get Jakob Chychrun to Toronto? | ||
| In a heartbeat | 84 | 30.5 % |
| Not a chance | 101 | 36.7 % |
| Depends what the other pieces were | 90 | 32.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
