Maple Leafs Linked to Rangers Over Deal Involving Stanley Cup Winner
Photo credit: Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs have been linked to the New York Rangers over a potential deal involving Stanley Cup winning forward Reilly Smith.
The Maple Leafs are approaching Friday's trade deadline with some important business to take care of.
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman has revealed on Monday that the Leafs are not only still looking at centers, but have also entered the market for a defenseman, and potentially even prized pending UFA Mikko Rantanen, if the Hurricanes decide to flip him.
While the Leafs' primary focus remains on finding a center, they may also look at acquiring a winger who can help bolster their 3rd line. On Monday, Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli has reported that Ontario native Reilly Smith may very well end up with the Leafs, as he is a fit for their 3rd line.
"New York held out Smith for trade-related protection over the weekend, their trade of Ryan Lindgren to Colorado indicating that they're not willing to pass up assets for their UFAs in this off-the-rails season. Smith is a proven playoff performer - a 2023 Stanley Cup winner and critical cog in two trips to the Final with Vegas. The Penguins have already retained on Smith, but the Rangers can chop him in half one more time. It would make a lot of sense for the Maple Leafs to bring him home to Toronto and add a little Cup pedigree to their room and third line. But they have to get a center first."
The Leafs are operating with limited cap space and trade chips, which means that they'll need to spend their money and assets wisely.
I'm not sold on the idea of bringing in a depreciating asset in Reilly Smith, unless he comes at a very modest asking price and with a considerable amount of salary retention, as Seravalli has suggested the Rangers would potentially be willing to eat in order to move him.
Time will tell how the Leafs will proceed here, but we know that Leafs GM Brad Treliving likes to be in discussions with everyone just to ensure that he doesn't miss out on a a good deal.
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