Maple Leafs consider moving their June first-rounder in imminent trade!

The Toronto Maple Leafs lost out on an upgrade on their back end when the Calgary Flames moved defenseman Nikita Zadorov to the Vancouver Canucks last month. The Leafs had hoped to get Zadorov and Chris Tanev in a deal, however it fell through.

Toronto is reportedly still targeting Tanev, though it sounds like the Flames are in no rush to part with Tanev and want to make sure they get a great return. This prompted insider Pierre LeBrun to reflect on Tanev’s trade cost and what the Maple Leafs might be willing to part with in order to acquire his services soon rather than later.

This is how LeBrun explained what could be brewing in Toronto in his latest column in the Athletic:

“I think if the Leafs were willing to move their June first-rounder, they could potentially entice the Flames into getting this done sooner rather than later. Too rich a price? Maybe. But Ben Chiarot , a similar type of defenseman who was also a pending UFA, went for a first-round pick two seasons ago from Montreal to Florida. David Savard , another rugged, physical, shot-blocking defenseman, also went for a first-rounder from Columbus (via Detroit) to Tampa Bay at the trade deadline in 2020-21, so I don’t think it’s completely greedy for the Flames to be thinking first, even if they end up settling for a second and/or a prospect instead.”

It may also be that high of a price on Tanev for the Maple Leafs to get the Flames to retain some of his salary in order to fit him under their cap. Tanev signed four-year $18 million contract that holds an average annual value (AAV) of $4.5 million in October 2020 and is currently playing its last year. He will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

If he were acquired by Toronto, Tanev would easily become one of the team’s top three blue liners, especially as a 20 minute a night defenseman. The question is, is he worth a first round pick in order to get off market now instead of waiting for a betting war closer to the trade deadline?

The Maple Leafs may also turn to the Philadelphia Flyers and have an eye on defencemen Nick Seeler and Sean Walker, as reported by Elliotte Friedman on ‘Saturday Headlines’. However, Anthony Di Marco of The Fourth Period does not however think Toronto would be willing to give up Easton Cowen and Fraser Minten.

“Prospect forwards Easton Cowen and Fraser Minten were described to me as ‘non-starters’ for the Leafs. The coy approach of Toronto has left more than one team a little frustrated with trade talks.”

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