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The Toronto Maple Leafs could part with their prized prospect to land a top-six winger to take Mitch Marner’s place.
The Toronto Maple Leafs could be compelled to move prized prospect Easton Cowan for a top-six winger to replace Mitch Marner.
The Leafs could pursue a trade with a major seller like the Pittsburgh Penguins for wingers like Rickard Rakell or Bryan Rust.
While the Leafs have done well to add solid depth pieces like Matias Maccelli, Nicolas Roy, and Michael Pezzetta, the fact is that neither will replace Marner’s spot on the top line. Rakell or Rust could slide into the top line with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies.
Of course, Rakell is not a 100-point scorer. Neither is Rust. But both players are solid 30-goal scorers and can provide far more offense than someone like Max Domi, Calle Jarnkrok, or Nick Robertson.
So, here’s a look at how this trade could work out:
Maple Leafs get:
Bryan Rust, F
2027 fourth-round pick
Penguins get:
Easton Cowan, F
2027 second-round pick
Ryan Reaves, F
It’s worth pointing out that Reaves is a cap dump to make the math work. The Maple Leafs have just a shade under $5 million in cap space. Rust comes with a $5.125 million cap hit. So, the Penguins could take Reaves off the Leafs’ hands for a second-rounder.
Meanwhile, the Penguins get the Leafs’ top prospect in Easton Cowan in exchange for three years of Bryan Rust at a reasonable cap hit.
The Leafs would ideally target Rust as he can play the wing on both sides and doesn’t have a no-trade clause like Rakell. Rakell could be attractive as he can play down the middle. But at this point, filling Marner’s old spot in the lineup would be a much higher priority.
Why Maple Leafs Could Part with Top Prospect
The Maple Leafs are facing a dwindling competitive window. Matthews is in the second year of his current four-year deal. John Tavares will be 35 this upcoming season, and William Nylander isn’t getting any younger.
The Leafs have a host of high-priced, 30-somethings who may not be around for more than a couple more seasons. Plus, the Leafs don’t have any significant prospects in the pipeline who could replenish the team.
So, it’s now or never for the Maple Leafs. They could part with Easton Cowan to get a player who can help them now. Cowan will be a valuable piece, but he’s a future. There’s no guarantee he could step in on the top line with Matthews and Knies and be at least a 60-point player.
Why Penguins Would Love Cowan
The Penguins are on the opposite side of the spectrum. They are hurdling toward a rebuild. While they may not fully implode this upcoming season, they will soon enough. Sidney Crosby is on the book for two years. And, Evgeni Malkin will be taking his victory lap this upcoming season.
Erik Karlsson wants out, Kris Letang is pushing 40, and the club doesn’t have a goalie. So, it makes sense to cash in a player like Rust for a valuable prospect who could become a major contributor within the next two to three seasons.
Moreover, the Penguins must replenish their prospect pipeline. GM Kyle Dubas has done a good job of that over the last two seasons. So, making a trade such as this one would be a no-brainer for the Penguins.
Nestor Quixtan Seasoned NHL analyst focused on covering all 32 teams with news, analysis, and insights. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Nestor’s singular experiences and background have enabled him to bring a different take on the sports world as a whole. More about Nestor Quixtan
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