Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs Should make a Trade

Examining why the Montreal Canadiens should make a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs and how a swap of prospects will improve each team.

The Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs both have a unique core of prospects for the future. However, the Canadiens have better Prospects on Defense and the Leafs have better Forward Prospects. Both teams though, should swap prospects and give themselves a more balanced talent pool for the future.

The Montreal Canadiens, over the past few years, have used top draft choices to take highly touted Defensemen. Since 2011, the Habs have drafted Nathan Beaulieu, Noah Juulsen and Mikhail Sergachev in the first round of the NHL Draft. All players look to have bright futures in the NHL and all have the capability of playing a top four or a top pairing role in the future.

Toronto has accumulated Forward prospects that will be top line, or top six forwards for years may years to come. The Leafs have picked players like Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander. All of these Forwards are versatile and can play both Center or the Wing.

Obviously, the Habs and Leafs are in different mind sets, and both have very different expectations from their fan bases. The Habs are ready to make a deep playoff run, and are in a win now mind set. The Leafs are rebuilding their roster for the future and want to continue to build through the draft.

Habs Thin at Center

The Canadiens do have some talented prospects for the future at Forward. Players like Michael McCarron, Artturi Lehkonen, Nikita Scherbak and Charles Hudon. The problem is, only one of these players cis a Center and that’s McCarron. But even McCarron is a natural right winger, who has developed as a Center in Junior, and in the AHL.

The Canadiens have a young number one Center in Alex Galchenyuk but there are many question marks after him in the Canadiens future. David Desharnais contract is done at the end of the season and Tomas Plekanec‘s contact will finish after the 2017-18 season. The Habs could move Shaw in the middle, but the Habs like to have him in a more versatile role, subbing in a Center occasionally.

The Montreal Canadiens have wisely drafted according to the best player available when they have selected. It just so happens that when the Habs pick, there just hasn’t been any top Centers available. So the Canadiens should make a trade to build depth at Center.

Leafs Thin on Defense

The Leafs on the other hand, have stockpiled some top end talent in their Forward group, and particularly at Center. Toronto has been able to this because they have committed to long term rebuild. However, the Leafs have had the same issue that Montreal has had over the last few drafts, and that’s the position of need, doesn’t match the value of the best player available.

Looking at Toronto’s depth chart it’s clear to see that they are lacking talent for the future on the blue line. Players like Morgan Rielly and Jake Gardiner have developed nicely for the Leafs, but the right side of their defense corps has been a steady revolving door for years. Players like Roman Polak aren’t part of the long term solution for the Maple Leafs, and they would also be wise to make a deal to acquire a young right sided Defensemen.

Habs and Leafs Trade Partners?

Yes it does seem weird to think about these division rivals attempting to make a trade. However, the purpose of the trade is depth for the futur, and adding players that fit each of their clubs organizational styles. Both the Habs and Leafs play a similar style and love players with speed.

Also, Habs General Manager Marc Bergevin played a huge role in selecting players for team Canada for this years world cup. Team Canada’s coach was Leafs head Coach Mike Babcock, and he also played a huge role in selecting that team. The point is that both the Leafs and Habs brasses, know what each other values in players and should get together to make a fair trade.

A Potential Trade Scenario

The Habs have a need up the middle and the Leafs need a right handed shot on the blue line. The Montreal Canadiens have Defenesmen Shea Weber and Jeff Petry locked up for a long time. So Noah Juulsen will likely not see top four minutes in Habs sweater for a very long time, or if ever.

Here is what Joe Curtis said of Noah Juulsen from eliteprospects.com in regards to the type of player Juulsen is:

"“A solid two-way defender, Noah Juulsen is able to force plays and always find ways to support his teammates. Juulsen is a smooth, yet not dynamic skater, and is mobile when he needs to be. Plays with a chip on his shoulder, and isn’t afraid to take the hit to make the play. Sees the ice well and has the individual skills to carry out the possibilities he sees. Very poised with the puck; calm and controls the play with authority.”"

The Leafs have a glutton of players who play Center now, or could play Center in the future. As a result trade rumors have swirled around the idea of the Leafs moving William Nylander. However, Mike Babcock was adamant that this wasn’t true, but you have to wonder if they have kicked around the idea internally.

The Leafs would probably like to add a prospect that they could develop, rather than trade for a player with term or a high cap hit. The Leafs want to build internally, and have their prospects earn their way on the roster, through their AHL roster the Toronto Marlies.

Here is the trade scenario:

Final Thoughts

Nylander is a year olde,r and was also a higher draft pick than Juulsen. Also, Nylander is all ready blossoming in the NHL and that’s why it would make sense for the Habs to throw in another first round pick. That pick would also allow the Leafs to add more pieces to their rebuild.

Next: Canadiens: 5 Potential Habs Trades To Upgrade At Center

Nylander and Galchenyuk would make fearsome one two punch at Center ice for the Habs. Juulsen would be a perfect complement to Morgan Rielly and making them a force to be reckoned with. Obviously the odds of this happening are slim to none, but it should, and could reignite the Habs and Leafs rivalry.

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