Leafs' Insider Labels King's Forward Dubas' Top Target.
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March 18, 2021 (4:42 PM)
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"The Toronto Maple Leafs and general manager Kyle Dubas have confirmed they're shopping for a forward before the trade deadline and the quarantine won't stop them. Dubas added that they're trying to get that trade done ASAP to get a head start on the quarantine period incase the Canadian government doesn't ease up restrictions. We've heard plenty of names regarding who that forward might be and now one Leafs' insider has pinpointed the Leafs' likely top target. Jonas Siegel of The Athletic believes the Leafs are in on the names we've heard circulated but the top target is not someone we've heard too much about. According to Siegel, the name at the top of the list is Los Angeles Kings' forward Alex Iafallo. "There's lots to like about the 27-year-old, a pending UFA with a mild $2.42 million cap hit. He's competitive, playing with the kind of tenacity and enthusiasm the Leafs want in their lineup. He's also quick with moderate skill (including six goals and 17 points so far this season after 17 and 43 last year), conscientious defensively and versatile. The Kings play him on their No. 1 line, No. 1 power play and No. 1 penalty kill. He's averaging 20 minutes a game and would be another reliable late-game option for Keefe. Iafallo is the ideal complementary winger, as he's shown he can fit in well around good players with his wide range of skills. He's been dynamite with Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown on L.A.'s formidable top unit this season and would slot in nicely with Tavares and Nylander if the Leafs were to bring him in. He also wouldn't be out of place with Matthews and Marner with his speed and knack for hunting down loose pucks in the corners. That would allow Hyman to prop up the third line again. Iafallo could move up and down the lineup in a fashion similar to Hyman." Not a name we've heard circulate too much but an intriguing fit, would you like to see Iafallo in a Leafs' uniform?
