Sportsnet's Justin Bourne has suggested that if the Leafs want to acquire a good player, they may have to have to part with one of their top prospects in Fraser Minten or Easton Cowan.
In his article, "What to Expect from the Maple Leafs by the 2025 Trade Deadline," Bourne shows why these two young forwards could be on the move.
While John Tavares' return boosts the Leafs' center depth, the injuries that happened this season have exposed a lack of reliable options at the center.
If Toronto is serious about contending for a Stanley Cup, they may need to acquire an established center for their 2nd or 3rd line and Minten or Cowan could be the pieces in such a deal.
Minten has already played 15 games this season and recorded four points, and has seen 19 total NHL appearances over the last two years.
Though he is projected as a reliable third-line center in the near future, his development timeline do not align with the Leafs' «win-now» mentality since they want to win a Stanley Cup in the next one or two year.
While moving either prospect is a tough decision, Toronto's deadline moves could determine if they have playoff success this season.
Last night, the Maple Leafs won against the Edmonton Oilers and it was certainly a big game for the franchise.
Now, they will look ahead to the 4 Nations Face-Off break where they can catch their breath and regroup for a late run.
POLL | ||
FEVRIER 2 | 212 ANSWERS Toronto Maple Leafs Analyst Makes Troubling Claim About Fraser Minten and Easton Cowan Who would you like to trade first between Fraser Minten and Easton Cowan? | ||
Easton Cowan | 93 | 43.9 % |
Fraser Minten | 119 | 56.1 % |
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