Leafs working on a potential deal with the Los Angeles Kings
Photo credit: NHL
The Toronto Maple Leafs have a very specific archetype that they're looking to acquire ahead of the March 8th trade deadline. They're looking for a big, physical, minute-munching right shot defenseman. Calgary certainly has a few options, but while many assume that Treliving will look to exploit the Flames with his knowledge of the organization, the Leafs actually appear to be zeroing in on a deal with another Pacific Division club. The Los Angeles Kings.
The Leafs have scouted the Kings on a number of occasions this season, but on Saturday, Brad Treliving has dispatched his own AGM to watch the Kings and Bruins in Boston. Oddly enough, the Flames have also sent their AGM to the Kings/Bruins game.
In terms of whom the Leafs are keeping an eye on, it would shock me if it wasn't 28-year-old defenseman Matt Roy, who fits the mold of what the Leafs are looking for perfectly. Roy is a top-4 defenseman who plays over 20 minutes per game, he's 6'2, 210 pounds and has a mean streak to him, playing a very physical brand of hockey. Roy blocks a lot of shots and also happens to be a right-handed defenseman.
The Leafs aren't overly enthused about spending assets on a rental, which is essentially what Roy would be. The pending UFA is on the books this season for $3.15M, but will become eligible to test free agency for the first time on July 1st.
There is certainly a chance that the Leafs could look to acquire Roy with the intention of working out a sign-and-trade, or perhaps they're looking at another player in Los Angeles with some term on his current deal. Whatever the case, it would appear as though the Leafs are very serious about someone in Los Angeles, or else they wouldn't be sending a high-ranking executive to watch in person.
The Leafs have also deployed scouts to take in today's Blackhawks/Senators game.
Could the Leafs be taking a good long look at Matt Roy today? Does he fit the bill for what Leafs GM Brad Treliving is looking for? Let us know in the poll below!
| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 17 | 727 ANSWERS Leafs working on a potential deal with the Los Angeles Kings Does Kings defenseman Matt Roy make sense for the Maple Leafs? | ||
| Yes, he's exactly what they need | 170 | 23.4 % |
| No, he's not enough of an upgrade | 255 | 35.1 % |
| Depends entirely on the asking price | 302 | 41.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
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