Welcome to another edition of NHL Rumours! The trade deadline is upon us and that means the buzz around the league is growing. There has been enough hockey played that teams know what the needs ere in the lineup. With that being said, the targets have been marked and now the waiting game begins. Today’s Rumours focus on the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers.
NHL Rumours
Toronto Maple Leafs
Rumour: The Fourth Period links St. Louis Blues defenceman to the Maple Leafs
One of the most electrifying offences lies within the East. The Toronto Maple Leafs are an electrifying group to watch and are dynamic when they have the puck on their sticks. Auston Matthews is scoring at a high rate and Williams Nylander is having a career season. Also, Mitch Marner and his stellar two way play does not go unnoticed. Scoring at a high rate is great but one area that needs to be addressed is defence.
Toronto is not one of the strongest defensive teams in the league. They allow an average of 3.22 goals against per game, which is 22nd in the league. Goaltending has something to do with that but the team could use a boost on the back end.
The search for a defenceman has been in full swing since John Klingberg was ruled out for the rest of the year. They’ve been linked to Chris Tanev of the Calgary Flames, but have another name linked to them.
One player that would fit like a glove in Toronto is Colton Parayko. Parayko is a big defenceman that thrives more in a shutdown role. That is precisely what the team needs. Also, Parayko comes with longevity, as he has six more years on his current contract whereas Tanev needs a new deal.
This would be a great addition for the Maple Leafs and they get a player with control. Also, this trade is more about building towards the future than going all in on this season. The price tag is going to be high given the market but will also need his approval as he has a full NTC in his deal.
New York Rangers
Rumour: The Fourth Period makes it known that the Rangers are shopping Kaapo Kakko
The next set of NHL Rumours keeps us in the eastern conference. Another original six team makes the headlines and this time it is the New York Rangers. The Rangers got off to a blistering start but has cooled down since. Although, they still remain in first place in the division but the gap has gotten smaller. The big key for the Rangers is they are getting key contributions from depth guys such as Will Cuylle and Jonny Brodzinski but the team needs more.
One player that has been floated out there is 2019 second overall pick Kaapo Kakko. Injuries have gotten the best of him this season and expectations were set high for him this year. Kakko was coming off a career year during the 2022-23 season, signaling for a bigger year. The opportunity was in front of him with the departures of Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko.
Moving on from Kakko signals that he could be part of a “hockey trade”. This is a world where you have to give to get and Kakko is an intriguing piece to build around. He has just eight points in 32 games this season but has five since returning from injury. Kakko has also helped provide a boost to the third line.
Kakko is due a new contract, as he is an RFA this summer. The teams linked to him have been the Anaheim Ducks, Minnesota Wild, and Buffalo Sabres.
Main Photo: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
