At the moment, the Toronto Maple Leafs are pretty banged up -- there are just no two ways about it.
While the team appears to be on the verge of welcoming back two star players, they're still down 4 or 5 regular forwards, which has Leafs GM Brad Treliving perusing the trade market for a potential solution.
Recently, a report emerged from top NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman, suggesting that both Chris Kreider and Jacob Trouba have become available in New York.
While no official reports had linked the Leafs to either player, there aren't many who would argue that Kreider doesn't make the Leafs a better team or that he wouldn't thrive under the tutelage of new Leafs head coach Craig Berube.
However, if Brad Treliving, who has historically put in calls on just about every available player, had any designs on poking around on Kreider, the latest comments from the player himself might give him pause.
According to some recent remarks from Kreider, he has been dealing with a litany of injuries that could become a problem for any team who acquires him.
Given the Leafs' ongoing injury issues, I'm not certain that he should be considered the right fit for this team.
If the Leafs happen to come up in connection with Kreider in any trade rumours, fans in Toronto will have a hard time not going straight to the Nick Foligno deal in their minds.
As a refresher, after parting with multiple pieces, including a 1st round pick for Foligno back in 2021, the veteran forward played in just a handful of games for the Leafs, spending most of his time on the sidelines with a back injury.
There's no question that acquiring a player like Kreider would come at an exorbitant cost - and would almost certainly include a 1st round pick. Perhaps the Leafs would be wise to just remain on the sidelines here and just watch Kreider be dealt elsewhere rather than to repeat the same mistake that they made in the Foligno deal.
POLL | ||
28 NOVEMBRE | 2261 ANSWERS Recent Revelation from Chris Kreider Shows Why the Leafs Would be Wise to Stay Away Knowing what we know now about Chris Kreider, should the Leafs stay away from a potential trade? | ||
Yes, too risky to make the trade | 1825 | 80.7 % |
No, he's still an excellent player | 436 | 19.3 % |
List of polls |