Imminent Blockbuster Trade Highlights a Big Missed Opportunity for the Maple Leafs
Photo credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
A potential blockbuster deal between the Rangers and Ducks is nearing completion, and highlights a huge missed opportunity for the Maple Leafs.
As the Toronto Maple Leafs, along with other teams eliminated from the playoffs, prepare for a busy offseason, speculation is building around how they'll retool their roster for next year.
With expectations high and significant cap space potentially opening up - especially when star winger Mitch Marner and his nearly $11 million cap hit are off the books - the Leafs are poised to be major players in both free agency and trade talks.
One name that has been linked to the Maple Leafs for some time is New York Rangers forward Chris Kreider. However, it now appears that the Anaheim Ducks may be closing in on a deal with the Rangers instead.
As per Frank Seravalli on X:
"Sources say #NYR and #NHLDucks are in advanced discussions on a deal that would send Chris Kreider to Orange County.
No semantics: there is NO DEAL at this moment in time.
But there is interest - and a framework. Both teams had other irons in the fire today. We'll see on Wed."
No semantics: there is NO DEAL at this moment in time.
But there is interest - and a framework. Both teams had other irons in the fire today. We'll see on Wed."
While Kreider may no longer be a 50-goal scorer, he remains a productive winger, tallying 22 goals in 68 games this past season. His mix of size, grit, and scoring touch would have been a great fit for Toronto - particularly in the playoffs.
That said, the Maple Leafs have several internal priorities to address first. Both John Tavares and Matthew Knies have reportedly shown interest in staying with the team, and their futures will likely need to be settled before major acquisitions are made.
Although missing out on Kreider may feel like a swing and a miss, the Leafs are still in a strong position heading into the offseason. With one of the largest amounts of cap space among playoff-caliber teams, significant roster changes are likely on the horizon.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 11 | 3175 ANSWERS Imminent Blockbuster Trade Highlights a Big Missed Opportunity for the Maple Leafs Will the Maple Leafs regret not going all in on Chris Kreider? | ||
| Yes | 617 | 19.4 % |
| No | 2558 | 80.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
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