NHL Insider Links Hard-Nosed, Right-Shot Defenseman to the Toronto Maple Leafs
In Nick Kypreos' latest trade board article ahead of the trade deadline, he has the Toronto Maple Leafs linked to a solid, physical defenseman for their top 4.
With the trade deadline less than 2 months away, the rumour mill will begin to churn continuously with contenders looking to solidify their rosters ahead of a crucial playoff run.
The Maple Leafs have invested a lot of their future draft capital in recent trade deadlines on defensemen and they could be in line to do it once again, according to Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos.
The former NHLer turned insider believes that New York Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield will be a prime target for Brad Treliving and company. The only caveat is that the 32-year-old carries a no-trade clause and would have to waive it, should the Islanders come to terms on a trade.
Mayfield is a solid top-4 defenseman who can kill penalties, block shots, finish checks, adds a small amount of offensive pop from the back-end, and can average up to 20 minutes a game if need be. On the season, he has 2 goals and 7 points in 41 games, has a plus-13 rating, 23 PIMs, 17:37 ATOI, and 70 blocked shots to 64 hits.
Mayfield registered a career-high 6 goals, 24 points, 168 blocked shots, and 21:02 ATOI in 2022-23, which earned him a 7-year deal worth $24.5 million from Lou Lamoriello that summer.
He still has 5 years remaining on the deal, which runs through the end of the 2029-30 season, at a cap hit of $3.5 million. But, as Kypreos mentions, the Islanders could look to retain some of that salary to facilitate a deal, considering the salary cap spike that is in line to increase next season.
The term remaining might be worrying, but Mayfield has been as consistent as they come for a top-4 defenseman throughout his 11-year career. With the exception of 2023-24, a season cut short by injuries, he's delivered on-pace averages of 20 points, 19:35 ATOI, 153 blocked shots, and 115 hits in his 6 seasons prior.
The Islanders are currently near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings and could look to move pieces at the deadline to get back on track next season. If Lamoriello decides to move on from his 6'5", 220 pound defenseman, the Leafs should be on the phone as soon as possible.
