Maple Leafs’ trade plan leaked ahead of deadline!

Insiders appear to agree that there is one plan in motion for the Toronto Maple Leafs ahead of the March 3rd trade deadline. And for once in the past few seasons, they’re not pointing to the blue line.

According to Mike Stephens of The Hockey News, general manager Kyle Dubas’ focus should be on boosting offense even if defenseman Jake Muzzin went down early in the season, never to return. Since the Maple Leafs have proven that they have the defensive depth to stay afloat, the same cannot be said up front and Stephens reveals how Dubas will address that issue ahead of the trade deadline.

Stephens cannot imagine the Maple Leafs going into a long playoff run with Alex Kerfoot in their top six. Sure, Auston Matthews is sidelined for a minimum of three weeks with a knee injury and should return in time for the last stretch, but the cracks are visible and need to be addressed.

First option of this trade plan would be to go big, like Bo Horvat big when the New York Islanders acquired him from the Vancouver Canucks. The Maple Leafs could target Timo Meier of the San Jose Sharks.

“The obvious target is San Jose Sharks winger Timo Meier, who comes in one year younger than Horvat and carries a slightly better offensive track record but is set to hit restricted free agency this summer. The extra year of team control seemingly makes Meier a more expensive asset. That’s usually how these things work. But his $10-million qualifying offer will likely come in around what Horvat could command as a UFA when he goes to market, which more or less evens the playing field.”

However, the price might be too steep, the competition too fierce. Stephens hints at another option on the market for Toronto in Philadelphia’s Travis Konecny or even Canucks’ Connor Garland. And he does not rule out the possibility of going after another big name in Vladimir Tarasenko of the St. Louis Blues.

But he makes it clear: the Maple Leafs’ plan is out there and it’s all about adding fire power up front.

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