The Toronto Maple Leafs focused on defense and goaltending this offseason, and a recent trade proposal suggests bringing in another star defenseman.
Using the PuckGM tool from PuckPedia, one user proposed a trade where the Maple Leafs would acquire Jamie Oleksiak from the Seattle Kraken.
Maple Leafs would acquire:
- Jamie Oleksiak ( $ 2.3 million retained)
Kraken would acquire:
- Topi Niemela
- 2026 first-round pick
- 2026 third-round pick
This proposed trade could be a blockbuster, as Toronto aims to go all-in this season by giving up two picks and a prospect.
Toronto would gain Oleksiak, who is entering the fourth year of his five-year, $ 23 million deal. Being from Toronto, he would likely become a local favorite. The 6-foot-7 defenseman would strengthen the blue line, potentially serving as the Maple Leafs’ second-line left-shot pairing, allowing Oliver Ekman-Larsson to move to a more suitable third pairing. Last season, Oleksiak had 2 goals and 13 assists for a total of 15 points in 82 games with the Kraken.
In exchange, the Maple Leafs would part with two draft picks and prospect Niemela, who is 22 years old and was selected in the third round of the 2020 NHL Draft. In the AHL last season, Niemela tallied 8 goals and 31 assists for 39 points in 68 games.
Maple Leafs Coach Elevates Intensity
During his first week at training camp, Berube has ramped up the intensity, and he is pleased with the players’ response.
“I think there’s been a lot of effort and competition out there, with plenty of battles. It’s important to understand that discomfort is part of the game, and you’ve got to compete and work through those situations,” Berube remarked on September 18. “Overall, I was very satisfied with the first day. The guys really put in the effort.”
Veteran forward Ryan Reaves also commented on the training camp, stating it was the toughest practice he has ever experienced.
“Today was definitely among my top two, and I’m pretty sure it was number one,” Reaves said. “It was a solid day, and I believe it sends an immediate message about our team’s identity. The guys embraced the challenge, and we came through it successfully.”
The Maple Leafs are set to kick off their 2024-25 NHL season on the road against the Montreal Canadiens on October 9.
Kraken Make Waves in Offseason
The Seattle Kraken made headlines by signing Stanley Cup champions forward Chandler Stephenson and defenseman Brandon Montour to seven-year contracts. General Manager Ron Francis expressed excitement over these significant moves for the franchise.
“It’s a thrilling day for the Kraken organization and its fans,” Francis stated on July 1. “This demonstrates that players are eager to join Seattle, play for our organization, and perform in front of our fantastic fans.”
The Kraken will launch their 2024-25 NHL season at home on October 8 against the St. Louis Blues.
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