Report Confirms Maple Leafs and Penguins Discussing High-Profile Trade for a Defenseman
Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Pittsburgh Penguins are reportedly discussing a deal that would see Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson landing in Toronto.
The Maple Leafs are very much following through with the plan to "change the DNA" this summer, already having sent Mitch Marner packing and bringing in the likes of Nicolas Roy, Matias Maccelli and Michael Pezzetta.
The Maple Leafs Appear to be in the Market for an Offensive Defenseman
The Leafs are reportedly still working the phones in an attempt to secure some help in the top-6, but are also reportedly perusing the market for defensemen as well.
Not only are the Leafs being linked to New Jersey Devils rearguard Dougie Hamilton, but now it appears as though Erik Karlsson is another name worth keeping an eye on, according to NHL reporter James Murphy, who revealed the following on the Leafs and Karlsson this week.
"There's more than just hearsay when it comes to the Leafs and Erik Karlsson right now," an NHL source told RG recently. "There's probably going to be salary retained, but the thought that there's some kind of bad blood between Dubas and the Leafs still that would prevent something like this is crazy. This is a business, and if there's enough interest from both teams and they figure out the cap hit and money, then that's all that matters."
The Leafs don't have a whole lot of offense coming from their blueline outside of Morgan Rielly, so the addition of someone like Erik Karlsson could certainly make some sense.
However, as Murphy outlined in his report, for the Leafs to follow through with this deal, it would have to come with some significant salary retention on Pittsburgh's part.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 9 | 3344 ANSWERS Report Confirms Maple Leafs and Penguins Discussing High-Profile Trade for a Defenseman Do you want to see Erik Karlsson in a Leafs jersey next season? | ||
| Yes | 1143 | 34.2 % |
| No | 2201 | 65.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
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