Photo Credits: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs have been rumoured to be linked to a lot of players. One thing that is for sure: whatever player is available, Toronto has checked in on them.
Morgan Rielly has been Toronto’s heartbeat on the backend for 12 seasons. If the right trade package were to come for Toronto, would they consider trading him?
A tweet on X raised eyebrows regarding the Toronto Maple Leafs and Utah Mammoth potentially working on a trade surrounding defenceman Mikhail Sergachev.
Maple Leafs discussing trade for Sergachev?
On Sunday, reporter Howard Berger of Between the Posts tweeted out that Toronto and Utah have had discussions around Sergachev. “Told the Leafs have talked to Utah about defenceman Mikhail Sergachev. Age 27. Cap hit $8.5 million. Full NMC. 53 points last season for the Mammoth. Creative cap work would be required by Toronto with only $1.9 million in current space,” Berger says.
Adding Sergachev would add much-needed offence
If the Maple Leafs can add Sergachev, he would make them a threat from the point with his offensive upside. I’d expect Morgan Rielly to be sent the other way if a deal goes through. Rielly has four years left on an eight-year contract at $7.5 million. A trade would require both Utah and Toronto to ask both defencemen to waive their no-trade clause.
A mock trade I have would send Morgan Rielly, the rights to Topi Niemela, and a draft pick for Sergachev with some retention to make the trade work.
Sergachev brings in a winning pedigree
Since entering the NHL in 2017 with the Montreal Canadiens, Sergachev has become one of the NHL’s best two-way defencemen in the league, in my opinion. Before being traded to Utah, he won two Stanley Cups with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021.
The Leafs adding Sergachev would give them one of the best defence cores in the NHL and a defenceman with a winning pedigree.
Drafted ninth overall by the Montreal Canadiens in 2016, Sergachev has played in 552 NHL games with 63 goals and 247 assists for 310 points.
As we get closer to the season, be sure to stay tuned to The Big Faceoff for more information about the world of hockey
Post a Comment