The Toronto Maple Leafs have made some big changes recently, but with some additions still necessary, the team land a physical piece in this latest trade proposal.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have made some major additions to their blue line this off-season, with Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson completely transforming their outlook heading into the 2024/25 season. However, they still lack the punch on the back end that could make this group a true difference maker, with a recent trade proposal from Heavy.com completely addressing this situation.
Maple Leafs get: D Radko Gudas
Ducks get: D Timothy Liljegren, 2027 first-round draft pick
On paper however, this is a massive overpay for Toronto, as that pick may be a number of years away, but could still be a fantastic asset in the coming years for the team to make a much bigger addition.
In Radko Gudas though, the team would get a very physical threat that has been a hinderance to them in the Stanley Cup Playoffs before, and while he’s no playoff threat in Anaheim, the team would love to have him to combat the Eastern Conference heavyweights moving forward.
On top of sacrificing a first-round draft selection, the Maple Leafs would give up Timothy Liljegren in this deal as well, and after giving him a two-year extension, it’s safe to say that it would be a very confusing deal to many Maple Leafs fans.
While Gudas spent 128 minutes in the penalty box a season ago, he was highly effective for a poor Ducks team, ending the season with a +14 differential, and with 18 points in 66 games to go along with the physicality, he would be an intriguing addition for Toronto. At this price however, it’s likely that Brad Treliving would scoff at the suggestion, but if the deadline rolls around and Toronto feel they need more physicality on the back end, it’s a deal that they could look too again.