Two Veteran Centers Linked to the Toronto Maple Leafs by NHL Insider
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With the Toronto Maple Leafs looking to add depth at the center position, two names are being linked to the team via a report from a Toronto reporter.
It's not really a secret that the Toronto Maple Leafs are hoping to add depth at the center position before the trade deadline on March 7th.
Speculation has been rampant on who that might be with several names thrown around, but a report by a Toronto-based reporter mentions two interesting names that certainly fit the bill.
Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun believes the New York Islanders Brock Nelson is a perfect fit for the Maple Leafs.
"Perhaps the perfect third-line centre from a lineup that should start with a healthy [Auston] Matthews and [John] Tavares down the middle. A 6-foot-4 presence up the middle, a one-team veteran of 12 NHL seasons - and that means something - and a scorer of 27 post-season goals in 78 games."
Simmons said the deal gets done with a first-rounder and other "trinkets" such as "a young player like Nick Robertson or a young goalie like Dennis Hildeby."
As for the second pivot, Simmons said Yanni Gourde checks all the boxes that the Maple Leafs want for this position, but wouldn't bring as much to the team as Nelson would.
"Gourde was a huge part of two Tampa Bay Stanley Cup wins but looks something like a diminishing asset now. Coach Craig Berube would love to a have a Gourde-type as his third-line center."
Current Leafs centernAuston Matthews remains on the sidelines, although the latest news on his potential return date should have Leafs fans breathing a whole lot easier.
There have also been rumours that the Leafs are looking to extend another forward with the team, Steven Lorentz, very soon.
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 3 | 1838 ANSWERS Two Veteran Centers Linked to the Toronto Maple Leafs by NHL Insider If you had the choice, which of these centers would you prefer the Maple Leafs pursue? | ||
| Brock Nelson | 674 | 36.7 % |
| Yanni Gourde | 401 | 21.8 % |
| Neither | 461 | 25.1 % |
| Not sure | 302 | 16.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
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