5 Maple Leafs Offseason Trade Candidates

The Toronto Maple Leafs are projected to miss the playoffs for the first time in a decade, and it’s become clear that changes need to be made.

Based on their activity at the trade deadline, the Leafs will likely be icing a much different team next season. However, they’ll have to wait until the offseason to make some of those decisions.

Here are five candidates that the Maple Leafs should consider trading for this offseason.
5 Maple Leafs Offseason Trade Candidates

Pavel Mintyukov (Defenceman, Anaheim Ducks)

The Toronto Maple Leafs’ biggest need moving forward is clearly on the blueline. Morgan Rielly is well past his prime, and the team needs to find his successor on the top defensive pairing.

Enter Pavel Mintyukov. The 22-year-old is way down on the Anaheim Ducks’ depth chart, stuck behind Jackson LaCombe and Olen Zellweger on the left side. 

Mintyukov is not being used to his full potential, playing just over 18 minutes a night for the Ducks, so the Leafs could swoop in and try to pick him up while his value is relatively low. 

Mintyukov is the exact type of player the Maple Leafs need – young, skilled, and cost-controlled – so they should at least inquire this offseason.

Brandt Clarke (Defenceman, Los Angeles Kings)

Brandt Clarke is another skilled, young defenceman that the Maple Leafs should be calling about.

Clarke is scoring about half a point per game in his second full NHL season, while his ice time has increased from about 16 minutes to 19 minutes per game since last year. 

Clearly, Clarke is starting to blossom in LA, but would the Kings ship him away for some more immediate help?

Clarke will likely cost a bit more than Mintyukov, but he fits the same mould that the Leafs desperately need.

Barrett Hayton (Forward, Utah Mammoth)

Moving to forward, the Maple Leafs are starting to get thin at the centre position, with John Tavares now 35 years old and Auston Matthews looking like he may also be past his prime.

The Leafs should begin searching for their next young centre who can step into a second-line role in the near future, and Barrett Hayton may be that guy.

Hayton is 25 but has already skated in seven NHL seasons. He’s never produced more than 20 goals and 46 points, but as a former fifth-overall pick, he may still have more to give.

It’s unclear whether the Utah Mammoth would be willing to part ways with Hayton, but he would definitely look good in a middle-six role in Toronto.

Alex Turcotte (Forward, Los Angeles Kings)

Heading back to LA, the Kings have another intriguing young centre in Alex Turcotte.

The 25-year-old has yet to fulfill his potential as a former fifth-overall pick, tallying just 25 points last season and only 12 so far this year. 

The centre is way down on the Kings’ fourth line, skating just 11 minutes per game. With more ice time and potentially better wingers in Toronto, he could be another low-risk, high-reward option to consider.

Dante Fabbro (Defenceman, Columbus Blue Jackets)

Dante Fabbro is a bit older at 27 years of age, but the Columbus Blue Jackets defenceman could be a cheap trade target with some upside.

Fabbro was touted as a skilled offensive defenceman coming out of Boston University, but he’s topped the 20-point mark just twice in eight NHL seasons so far. That said, he hasn’t played on great offensive teams, only skating for the Blue Jackets and Nashville Predators

Could he unlock another level to his game in Toronto? It might be worth taking a flier this offseason.