Not long after his close friend Jake Muzzin left the Oct. 17 loss against Arizona with an apparent neck injury, Marner let the world know his potential seriousness with his comments: “Obviously for him it’s just to make sure that if he comes back and plays this year, or whatever happens, just make sure that he’s going to be able to do what he wants to do for the rest of his life and enjoy time with his family, his kids.” It was one of those prophetic quotes that spoke volumes. A player’s life and well-being after hockey is always of the utmost importance. Fast forward to this week, nearly a month later, when the Maple Leafs announced Muzzin would be out for the foreseeable future with a cervical spine injury, to be re-evaluated in late February before the March 3 trade deadline. For Toronto, Muzzin’s injury is probably the best outcome in a worst-case scenario. He’s a winner, acquired and paid to be a big playoff contender, but injuries have piled up, and at least now he has clarity and flexibility. Advertisement – Continue Reading Below GM Kyle Dubas said Monday that in the short term, the Leafs will give young defensemen Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren no shortage of opportunities to step up and seize the moment. In the long run, it seems like a foregone conclusion that the Leafs will use all of Muzzin’s $5.625 million in LTIR cap space to bolster a backcourt that many thought was already in need of a boost when Muzzin was healthy. This is a “burning” type of season in Toronto, where no stone should be left unturned. It’s now or never to make a dent in the Stanley Cup playoffs for this trunk. So, who is available on the blueline? As Senators GM Pierre Dorion noted Tuesday, it’s the hardest position to trade in the NHL. Given the list below, Dubas may have to move away from his preference not to sign loan players, as there are seemingly very few defenders on terms available. Teams that have solid defensemen are about their business unless a significant premium is paid. And it’s not like Dubas, in the final year of his contract without an extension, should be thinking much beyond this season anyway. Advertisement – Continue Reading Below Aside from the obvious Jakob Chychrun, who is available for more than a year in Arizona and is set to make his season debut on Nov. 21, here are six potential solutions for the Maple Leafs as the season progresses:
1. John Klingberg, Anaheim Ducks
Age: 30 Shoots: RightStats: 16 GP, 1 G, 7 A, 8 PtsContract: UFA pending, $7M AAV With Muzzin injured, the Leafs have the ability to jump the market and acquire Klingberg. It’s been a miserable start for the rebuilding Ducks, who are tied for the fewest points in the league. He is a strong skater and defender, a very well-rounded player who would immediately improve the power play. The idea behind signing Klingberg to a one-year deal in late July while remaining on the free-agent market was to see if there was a fit, but also to realize he’s a potential upside asset. Klingberg recognized that as well, which is why he has a full no-trade clause until January 1st. With the Ducks keeping half of Klingberg, his contract would fit nicely into the Leafs’ LTIR cushion, and if the cap increases – it might not be out of the realm of possibility that the Leafs could re-sign him. But the acquisition cost won’t be cheap. Klingberg will get a first-round pick, plus more, in the rental market. He’s also the best all-around defender out there.
2. Vladislav Gavrikov, Columbus Blue Jackets
Age: 26 Shoots: LeftStats: 15 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 4 Pts Contract: UFA Pending, $2.8M AAV Gavrikov is rather close to a stylistic opposite of Klingberg. Gavrikov is the key defensive back. He has size and range, blocks shots and kills plays. He’s not quite worthy of the term “shutdown” guy, but he holds his own. If you look back at Toronto’s playbook under Kyle Dubas, a similar style of player has already been targeted and acquired in Ilya Lyubushkin, who has since moved to Buffalo. In that deal last season, they also dealt Nick Ritchie to Arizona with a second-round pick for Lyubushkin. The acquisition cost is likely to be the same this time around, and Columbus doesn’t have the same cap flexibility as Arizona to take on an unwanted contract. Gavrikov is a few months away from free agency on a Columbus team headed in the wrong direction. They’ve capitalized on the rental market with Toronto before, and we could see GM Jarmo Kekalainen do it again.
3. Matt Roy, Los Angeles Kings
Age: 27 Shoots: RightStats: 18 GP, 3 G, 5 A, 8 PtsContract: 1 more season left, $3.15M AAV Advertisement – Continue Reading Below Roy is the only blueliner on our list with life on his contract. Why does it make the cut? The Kings are one of the few teams in the league with a defensive surplus. They have eight healthy defensemen right now if you include 19-year-old prospect Brandt Clarke and that doesn’t include Jordan Spence or Tobias Bjornfot, who are set to go to AHL Ontario. The real proof in the narrative is found in Roy’s frozen weather. After averaging 20:18 the last two seasons, he has only hit 20 minutes twice this season, averaging 17:50. It’s clear the Kings would prefer to get Sean Walker out of the way first, who still hasn’t looked the same after a serious right knee injury. Walker has the same term with a slightly lower punch. But Roy is the best defender right now. His game isn’t going to knock anyone out in any aspect, but the unassuming 2015 seventh-round pick is solid, reliable and not easily rattled.
4. Carson Soucy, Seattle Kraken
Age: 28 Shoots: LeftStats: 16 GP, 1 G, 3 A, 4 PtsContract: UFA pending, $2.75M AAV Of all the players on this list, Soucy is the only player who might not be available. Yet. The Kraken have exceeded expectations this season and bounced back in a big way after a tough entry into expansion. Their early-season shot at a playoff spot may be tenuous in the Pacific Division, but they’re in the mix. That’s important for the franchise to build a competitive base — and it means GM Ron Francis and Co. they probably aren’t willing to take chunks off the roster. Especially ones as versatile as Soucy. However, we know that teams have made good progress with Kraken in Soucy already. This classic 6-foot late bloomer, who signed his current contract as a pending Team VI UFA in 2020, was selected by Minnesota in the Expansion Draft. He doesn’t have many holes in his game. He can also play on both sides of the blue line, which is important given Sheldon Keefe’s preference for righty left-right pairings. For the reasons stated, Soucy is a player who can be approached at the March 3 deadline, and the Leafs wouldn’t be the only ones eligible.
5/6. Nick Jensen OR Dmitry Orlov, Washington Capitals
Age: 32 / 31 Shots: Right / Left Stats: 18 GP, 1 G, 8 A, 9 Pts / 13 GP, 0 G, 5 A, 5 Pts Deals: Both pending UFAs, $2.5M / 5 .1 million dollars AAV There’s no question that the Capitals’ sole focus this season is making the Stanley Cup playoffs with a roster designed for win-now mode. Injuries can make that impossible. Nicklas Backstrom, Tom Wilson, TJ Oshie, Connor Brown and Carl Hagelin will have missed significant chunks of time. And GM Brian MacLellan may have no choice at the deadline to exit rentals if the Caps look likely to miss the playoffs for the first time since 2014. If that’s the case, there are two interesting matchups for the Leafs . Orlov may be the most expensive acquisition, but Jensen may have more suitors. Both are stylistic fits for Toronto because they both handle forechecking pressure well. This is important because the Leafs seem to have been overwhelmed by it at times in their recent first-round playoff exits. Orloff is more assertive, Jensen more reserved. Both have the same confidence. Jensen’s contract has aged pretty well, while Orlov likely had a higher ceiling years ago and has seen his game plateau a bit, but is still playing at a high level. Watch: Matt Dumba, Minnesota Wild. Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
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