Toronto Native May Now Finally Be Available and He's a Natural Fit for the Maple Leafs

Nashville Predators forward Luke Evangelista remains unsigned as we near the end of August, and according to recent reports, the club could look to move the young forward should talks continue to be stalled.

Sportsnet's Luke Fox stopped by 'Halford & Brough in the Morning' earlier this week and discussed the topic at length. He believes that both sides are very far apart at the moment and the Predators could look to the trade market to shake things up.

Evangelista is fresh off of his sophomore season, in which he tallied 10 goals and 32 points in 68 games. He posted 16 goals and 39 points in the 80 contests the year prior in his official rookie season, but he also scored 15 points in 24 games in 2022-23.

The Toronto native has been a productive scorer at all levels of his young career, including the 55 goals and 111 points he recorded in his final junior season with the London Knights in 2021-22 as well as the 41 points in 49 games he accumulated in his first season in the AHL the following year.

The Maple Leafs have held interest in the 23-year-old in the past and their patience might finally pay off if Nashville is in fact looking to move him.

Contract negotiations are reportedly not going over well. The two sides are very far apart, and with Toronto looking for help at the forward position, Evangelista fits the bill.

His scoring prowess will mesh perfectly with a lot of what the Maple Leafs currently have on the roster. It's a bonus that Evangelista can play on any line and produce, as he has with Nashville over the last few seasons, where he's scored 22 even-strength goals while averaging just 13:55 TOI.

It could also be seen as a low-risk-high-reward venture. While he is still very young, Nashville might not have all the leverage in the world, and could look to replace him with an equally younger forward with NHL experience in Nick Robertson, for example.

It's a move worth considering for Brad Treliving and company as the Leafs are in business for more skilled forwards.

Evangelista is only now coming off of his ELC and he won't be scheduled for unrestricted free agency until the end of the 2028-2029 season.