The Toronto Maple Leafs should pursue two specific RFAs at this year’s NHL Trade Deadline.
If the Toronto Maple Leafs want to improve their future while also increasing their chances of winning the Stanley Cup this season, they must target the RFA defenseman market, notably Noah Dobson and Bowen Byram.
The Leafs’ main weakness right now is their defense. As of now, their top six players are Jake McCabe, Chris Tanev, Morgan Rielly, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Simon Benoit, and Philippe Myers. As you can see, following Tanev/McCabe/Rielly, the team’s defense instantly falters. The Leafs cannot afford to enter the playoffs with that lineup, and I’m concerned that Ekman-Larsson will be the second coming of John Klingberg.
So, for a total of $7.85 million, the Leafs have the opportunity to significantly improve their defense for the now and the future.
Dobson, a 25-year-old right-handed defenseman, can contribute offensively while still being defensively responsible. At 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, Dobson is a legitimate top-pairing defenseman worth locking up for another eight years.
The Toronto Maple Leafs should trade for Dobson and Byram.
Byram, the former No. 4 overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, hasn’t lived up to his expectations, but solely due to injuries, which is why the Avalanche traded him to Buffalo for Casey Middlestadt last year.
Byram has flourished in Buffalo and is a star player at only 23 years old. He should be one of the Leafs’ top trade targets.
You may believe that signing both of these defensemen is difficult, but with such a low cap hit, it is really achievable. By merely dealing Ekman-Larsson ($3.5 million), David Kampf ($2.4 million), and Ryan Reaves ($1.4 million), the organization would be able to pay both players, and if necessary, they could easily convince another team, such as Utah or Chicago, to eat salary in exchange for a draft pick.
Personally, I can’t think of a better defenseman to invest in than Dobson, who would be my top priority, so if it means trading a first-round pick and a high-end prospect for him, go for it. Byram would be similarly priced, but it would be worthwhile to add two top-pairing defensemen to an already strong club.
The Leafs have a lot of salary-cap space available over the next three years and should consider investing in these two RFAs since they can benefit the team now and in the future.