The Toronto Maple Leafs should make a major trade with the floundering Nashville Predators to acquire either Ryan O’Reilly or Colton Sissons.
The Nashville Predators are currently in a tailspin, and the Toronto Maple Leafs must capitalize on this. It’s always amusing how the loudest team in the offseason is the quietest one during the regular season. Every year, regardless of the sport, an organization that makes a lot of moves becomes a bottom feeder.
It’s always funny how the loudest team in the offseason is always the quietest one during the regular season. No matter the sport, this happens every year where an organization who makes a ton of moves, is all of a sudden a bottom-feeder. The Toronto Blue Jays went through this during the 2013 season when they made a ton of acquisitions and were set to be World Series favorites, but flopped immediately and missed the playoffs.
Predators GM Barry Trotz has “pondered a rebuild” after this terrible start, which means anything could be on the table for the struggling franchise. Depsite signing big names such as Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, Ryan O’Reilly, Brady Skjei and Jusse Saros over the past two years, it feels like any of these players could be moved.
The Toronto Maple Leafs should make a major trade with the failing Predators
So, what would you do if you were the Leafs? Do you go after one of the big boys to help the Predators become more flexible against the salary cap, or do you take on a smaller contract to inspire change in the Predators dressing room?
Personally, if I’m Brad Treliving, I’m calling Trotz immediately and am going after these two players specifically: Ryan O’Reilly and Colton Sissons.
The Leafs need depth, specifically at centre and could use O’Reilly and Sissons’ services immediately. O’Reilly would be the perfect player to come back, especially after he failed to re-sign in Toronto in July, 2023. However, he may still want to stay in Nashville despite the losing, as this is what he said when asked about why he signed in Nashville
“I do like it here in that sense where you can fly under the radar and I can take my kid to hockey…Still people know (who I am), but I can be there and engage with him more. It’s something that at this point in my career I think I enjoy that and am able to have with him,” said O’Reilly (via: The Hockey News)
If O’Reilly wouldn’t be willing to move back to Toronto and chase another Stanley Cup in his home province, Sissons is another great option, as he only makes $2.8M and is under contract until 2026. His stats aren’t amazing but he’s a right-handed centre who can score 15 goals a season and be a great depth addition at 3C.
If either O’Reilly or Sissons joined the team, you could get really creative with your lines, as I’d personally love to see something like this:
First Line: Matthew Knies/Auston Matthews/Mitch Marner
Second Line: Max Domi/Colton Sissons or Ryan O’Reilly/William Nylander
Third Line: Max Pacioretty/John Tavares/Nicholas Robertson
Fourth Line: Bobby McMann/David Kampf/Steven Lorentz
Pushing Domi to the wing as Nylander’s primary playmaker would be an excellent combo that would significantly improve the depth of this roster. You’d suddenly have four lines that could all score, which they currently lack.
The Leafs are on the verge of being Stanley Cup contenders, and a major trade with Nashville may make all the difference.
