Maple Leafs trade talks with Anthony Stolarz, Bobby McMahon gets latest from Sportsnet originally appeared on The Sporting News. Click here to add Sports News as your go-to source.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have a busy trade season ahead, likely after the Olympics.
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It’s not going to be the kind of busy they want. Most likely, they will be sold and potentially move on from Anthony Stolarz and Bobby McMahon.
Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos included these two players on his latest trade board when analyzing the NHL players most likely to be moved.
Stolarz’s trade to the Maple Leafs hinges largely on the depth of their goaltending in the organization.
“The Maple Leafs feel they have the luxury of netting like Minnesota does and can acquire assets for Stolarz, but he hasn’t played well enough yet,” Kepreos wrote. “A strong performance at the trade deadline may be enough to drive up his value, and the Leafs will be looking at the market. Toronto is struggling to manage its goaltending assets, and with Joseph Wall and Dennis Hilderby playing so well in the NHL (as well as Artur Akhtiamov in the minor leagues), you have to think they feel most comfortable selling Stolarz right now.”
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In any trade for Stolarz, Toronto would likely want a young skater in return, taking the surplus and turning it into a future asset.
McMahon’s availability has more to do with other teams’ interest in the very affordable contract he offers for a pretty good player.
“McMan is on pace for the best season of his career and he’s garnering the most interest from Maple Leafs players,” Kepreos wrote. “If the Maple Leafs are going to try to restructure on the fly to make the playoffs again next year, they may be reluctant to keep McMahon, who will likely be looking for around $5 million in AAV. In the meantime, they’ll probably get something for him, plus a second-round pick.”
McMahon could cost a lot of money in the future, but for now, Kepreos writes, anyone and everyone can get involved.
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“In many ways, he’s probably one of the most popular tight ends at the deadline because he’s the easiest to qualify for the $1.35 million cap hit, which every contender can do, from Colorado to Florida, Anaheim, Ottawa… you name it,” Kepreos wrote.
These are far from the only names on Toronto’s roster that could pop up in trade rumors, but they are two of the most notable.
You can certainly believe that the rumors have continued leading up to the Maple Leafs trade deadline.
