Yahoo Sports Brock Nelson, Yanni Gourde Viewed as ‘Best Fits’ for Maple Leafs’ Center Depth: Should Toronto Pursue Them?
The Toronto Maple Leafs have been rumored to be inquiring about trading for a center to shore up their depth at the position as of late, particularly in light of injuries to star Auston Matthews and other offensive contributors this season. On Wednesday, Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun laid out his thoughts on the best fits for the Leafs as they navigate the trade market.
Central to Simmons’ thoughts are New York Islanders veteran Brock Nelson and Seattle Kraken forward Yanni Gourde, both of whom he identified as ideal options to address Toronto’s needs.
Brock Nelson would be a perfect fit for the Maple Leafs even it's something he's not thinking about.
My column and conversations with Nelson and Lou Lamoriello two months from trade deadline.
My column https://t.co/mXrn5GOAFi— Steve Simmons (@simmonssteve) January 1, 2025
Nelson, playing in his 13th season in the NHL, has spent his entire career with the Islanders, where he’s become a reliable performer in both the regular and postseason. However, with Nelson’s six-year, $36 million contract set to expire at the end of the season, his future with the Islanders remains uncertain.
“It’s not something I think about,” Nelson told Simmons. “I don’t put much stock into any of that (trade) stuff,” he added.
Despite posting three consecutive 30-goal campaigns, Nelson has experienced a dip in production this season, registering just 10 goals and 11 assists for 21 points in 38 games. Nevertheless, his proven scoring ability and playoff experience (50 points in 78 games) make him a workable trade target.
Simmons speculated that any deal for Nelson could involve young assets such as Nick Robertson or goaltender Dennis Hildeby heading to New York. The Leafs, who do not own a 2025 first-round pick, may have to rely on tangible players to make a deal work.
The other name out of the hat was two-time Stanley Cup champion Gourde. His game, built on leadership and experience, fits the mold for a playoff acquisition for the Leafs. It was recently reported by The Athletic’s Chris Johnston and Pierre LeBrun that Gourde would have “no issue” waiving his modified no-trade clause to come to Toronto.
Simmons noted Gourde’s ability to thrive in playoff situations, suggesting that his addition to the Leafs’ third line – potentially centering Bobby McMann and Max Domi – could provide Toronto with a level of depth and grit they’ve lacked in previous postseason runs.
Beyond Nelson and Gourde, Simmons identified several other trade targets including Scott Laughton and Morgan Frost of the Philadelphia Flyers, Ryan Strome of the Anaheim Ducks, and Alex Wennberg of the San Jose Sharks. While these are other options, Simmons wrote that Nelson and Gourde should remain the top two options for the Leafs.
Regardless, no matter who the club attempts to trade for, executing a move won’t necessarily be easy. According to PuckPedia.com, the Leafs currently only have $663,229 available in cap space and, as mentioned, they don't currently hold the rights to a 2025 first-round pick.
NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported on Monday that Leafs general manager Brad Treliving is prioritizing players with term remaining on their contracts. However, Friedman also acknowledged that the team would consider rental players if the fit is right – making this a real possibility.
“I think their preference is the term. That’s one thing I’ve heard out there is that preference is term. If there is a rental that they really like, I’m sure they’ll pivot to that too. But one of the things I’ve heard is that if they’re going to go and spend assets on a center, they would prefer it to be someone with term,” said Friedman on Monday.
The good news is the Leafs still have three months until the NHL’s trade deadline to make an estimated decision that allows them the time to value all of their options. While there are many options on the table, the challenges of navigating cap space and trade assets in negotiations will be the biggest test.
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