Toronto Reporter Mentions Islanders' Center in Connection to the Maple Leafs
Photo credit: Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers
The Toronto Maple Leafs need to bolster their depth down the middle and the New York Islanders have one pending UFA that fits the bill, according to James Mirtle of The Athletic.
Connor Dewar and Jani Hakanpaa are expected to be activated from LTIR by the end of the week after both travelled with the team on their recent road trip. Dewar and Hakanpaa have been out since training camp as they both recover from their respective surgeries -- Dewar with shoulder surgery and Hakanpaa a procedure on his knee in March.
With that in mind, the Leafs are taking calls on a pair of forwards to free up cap and roster space, though Calle Jarnkrok is reportedly not close to making a return just yet.
The depth down the middle of the Leafs' lineup has been questioned since training camp, even with William Nylander and Max Domi both getting looks at the position. On yesterday's JD Bunkis podcast, The Athletic's James Mirtle revealed that one forward on the New York Islanders could help fix their issue and provide them with a well-rounded 200-foot player.
"The one name I saw who's potentially out there is Brock Nelson," said Mirtle. "He would be perfect. With size, he can score He's not a shutdown center, but he's not gonna kill you in your own end either. You'd have to give up something substantial to make that happen, but, if you could bring in a center like that, you've got something."
Nelson is in the final year of his deal that carries a $6M AAV, so the Leafs would need some help from their former GM Lou Lamoriello in the form of salary retention to make the numbers work. That obviously increases the cost to acquire the 33-year-old, but as Mirtle said, Nelson would give the Leafs everything they need in a center.
"You're right. If you could just bring in a center like that and get the other team to retain half the salary so it fits in comfortably, and then you start putting together the lines, and it's like now you've got something. You know you've got you got three lines that can do damage in the playoffs which is what they need," added Bunkis.
Nelson currently has four goals in eight games and sits second on the Islanders in scoring and would be fifth on the Leafs in goals. While it seems like a long-shot, should the Islanders find their way out of a playoff spot near the trade deadline, Nelson is someone the Leafs should, at the very least, inquire about.
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 30 | 1708 ANSWERS Toronto Reporter Mentions Islanders' Center in Connection to the Maple Leafs Would Brock Nelson be a good fit on the Leafs? | ||
| Yes | 976 | 57.1 % |
| No | 403 | 23.6 % |
| Depends where they play him | 329 | 19.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
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