The silly NHL season is alive and kicking. We have already seen a work spree Over the weekend and it’s time for the Toronto Maple Leafs. General Manager Brad Treleving has yet to make a big move, and rightfully so, as he’s getting his feet wet in his new office. But it might be time to move from dipping his toes into jumping in to test the waters with some sharks.
The Maple Leafs’ center back needs a reset. Thankfully, Justin Hall won’t be back, Jake Muzin isn’t expected to play in 2023-24, and Luke Schenn might price himself off the roster when free agency opens up. Treliving may need to go the commercial route to improve his blue streak, so why not make a bid for the next Norris Award winner?
San Jose Sharks and Erik Carlson are the owners of both mutually agreed To find a business partner this summer, the Maple Leafs should at least make a solid showing of where to go. Leafs Nation, try this for size:
The Maple Leafs trade Matt Murray, Timothy Lillegren, Toby Niemela and Roni Hirvonen to the Sharks for Erik Carlsson (50% of salary kept)
Treliving doesn’t have an easy job coming after or as a or done as a reaction to a question of. Kyle Dubas, who basically traded 100 draft picks and let the Maple Leafs’ scouting department fiddle with his thumbs. If the GM of Toronto is going to make a splash across the trade market, he’ll need to include quantity over quality and likely no draft picks. Not an easy task to say the least.
Adding a 100-point defenseman would be a great first move by Treliving. Carlsson proved last season that he still has a ton left in the tank and thanks to his smooth skating style, he should be able to finish his contract after the 2026-27 season. He owes $11.5 million per season and the Sharks will keep half of that deal, leaving Toronto with a $5.75 cap for the next four seasons. That average annual value for the best defensive duo, who can put up 100 points on a really bad team, would be an absolute steal.
Carlson runs a strong play made up of Auston Matthews, John Tavares, Mitch Marner and William Nylander and he could be bananas. If they don’t finish in the top three in the league it will be disappointing. Assistant coach Spencer Carberry, who managed the PP, is now behind the bench in Washington and the Leafs lineup will look a lot different next season. It will be interesting to watch Carlson as quarterback.
This acquisition would give the Maple Leafs another elite offensive weapon. Production from the blue line was very inconsistent last season, and while some might think Carlson specializes only in athletics, it’s worth noting that he amassed an equally solid 74 points in 2022-23.
The Sharks are going to get a lot of upside on this deal
First, the Sharks need another goaltender and they have their eyes on some veteran assists. Winning two Stanley Cup championships for Murray would be a wise move. It’s not just a reclamation project, but one that could interest other teams at the trade deadline next season.
Liljegren is the meat and potatoes used in this trade for GM Mike Grier’s sharks. At 24 years old with 141 NHL games under his belt, he’s starting out on his own and could take the next big step in sunny California. Liljegren makes $1.4 million for the cap and arbitration will be eligible as a restricted free agent next summer. His highest cap is No. 2 blueliner, and if given playing time next season in San Jose, it wouldn’t be out of the question for him to put up 50 points.
While the loss of Liljegren will hurt the Maple Leafs, it’s only for a moment here that Karlsson will be a huge upgrade. Murray, on the other hand, is the odd man out with Ilya Samsonov expected to re-sign Joseph Wall under contract in the next two seasons for less than $1 million.
Niemela and Hirvonen are two of the Maple Leafs’ best prospects. They will give Grier two assets to the 21-year-old for his organizational depth and both players will vie for playing time in training camp. Treliving doesn’t have a lot of ammunition when it comes to attractive deal prospects, and he’ll benefit greatly from these two “bullets.”
The Maple Leafs GM will need to get creative
With limited space in Toronto to go along with a primarily third-string goaltender who has $4.6 million on the books next season, Treliving will need to get creative to upgrade the team. This trade would do the trick.
Morgan Rielly isn’t going anywhere. Jake McCabe has a whopping net worth of $2 million for the next two seasons. TJ Brodie and Mark Giordano have a history with Treliving and are likely safe. Shane could still return, Conor Timmins doesn’t have much commercial value, and in the meantime Lillegren is coming off an impressive season and a world championship as he figured on the blue line for Sweden. The value of his trade is big and it’s time for the Leafs GM to cash in.
If the Sharks are willing to keep 50% of Carlson’s salary, the Maple Leafs should be very interested. The trade could focus around Liljegren and two high-profile prospects, while also getting rid of Murray’s contract for next season. Treliving’s first Maple Leafs splash can come in shark-infested waters. What is the time to be alive.
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