Gone Puck Wild
Fansided

Are the Minnesota Wild and Toronto Maple Leafs Perfect Trade Partners?

By Dylan Loucks

TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 15: Gerald Mayhew #26 of the Minnesota Wild battles against Jake Muzzin #8 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on October 15, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Wild 4-2. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 15: Gerald Mayhew #26 of the Minnesota Wild battles against Jake Muzzin #8 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on October 15, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Wild 4-2. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

It has been rumored that the Minnesota Wild and Toronto Maple Leafs have been in “trade talks” since the trade deadline. So, what deal could benefit both sides?

Whether or not the rumors are true, the names of Wild defenders Matt Dumba and Jonas Brodin have popped up everywhere, especially being linked to Kyle Dubas and the Maple Leafs. On the other hand, Leafs forwards’ Andreas Johnsson, Kasperi Kapanen, William Nylander, Alexander Kerfoot, and even Mitch Marner have been rumored to get traded.

So the question is, what deal with the right players could benefit both Bill Guerin’s Wild and Kyle Dubas’ Maple Leafs?

More from Gone Puck Wild

Recent lack of playoff success is something the Maple Leafs and Wild have in common. It has been 16 years since the Maple Leafs have advanced past the first round. Many Leafs fans are wondering what big changes need to be made to propel them past the first round, and the same goes for us Wild fans.

Just looking at it, it feels like the Wild and Leafs are perfect trade partners. Minnesota has a surplus of quality defensemen and the Leafs could have center (or scoring talent) that the Wild need. So, why not make a trade?

Personally, I believe the Maple Leafs need a defensive defenseman like Jonas Brodin on their team. In the minds of Leafs fans, they don’t need another left-shot defender. On the other hand, it is also to my understanding Kyle Dubas wants to stack the right side of his defense with offensive talent. So, say Tyson Barrie leaves, who replaces him? The quick answer from the Minnesota Wild is 26-year-old Matt Dumba.

So let’s say Toronto doesn’t need a Left-handed defenseman than an ideal trade for Toronto would be acquiring Matt Dumba.

Now I’m not sure that would be enough for Toronto but this would help the Wild tremendously. With an absent Matt Dumba, you could plug in one of your young offensive rookie defenders Calen Addison or Brennan Menell.

Some critics say Willam Nylander is more of a winger than a center. If that’s the case, you can plug him on the wing to either play with Kevin Fiala, Kirill Kaprizov, or even Zach Parise. Adding William Nylander provides Dean Evason and the Wild a lot of options.

Ideal 2020-2021 Opening Night Lineups

Forwards:

LW: W.Nylander C: J.Eriksson Ek RW: K.Fiala

LW: K.Kapanen C: E.Staal RW: K.Kaprizov

LW: Z.Parise C: L.Kunin RW: M.Zuccarello

LW: M.Foligno C: R.Donato RW: R.Hartman

Defense:

LD: Suter RD: Spurgeon

LD: Brodin RD: Addison

LD: Soucy RD: Menell

Breakdown

OTTAWA, ON – FEBRUARY 15: Toronto Maple Leafs, William Nylander #88 (Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON – FEBRUARY 15: Toronto Maple Leafs, William Nylander #88 (Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images) /

Nylander plays a winger role in Toronto and if you ask anyone in Toronto they will tell you he is not a Center. Although he is rumored to have some center eligibility, so it is up to Bill Guerin if he wants to take a chance at using Nylander at Center or not.

Even if the WIld do not use Nylander as a center, it still provides them with more offensive star power on the wings. It has been 3 years since the Wild have had a player record 30 or more goals in a single season, so Nylanders’ 31 goal campaign would help a lot.

Home/Analysis