Trade Pitch Sees Maple Leafs Acquiring $68M Star in 1-For-1 Deal

The Toronto Maple Leafs will look to add a middle-six center this offseason, and one trade idea has them landing a star center.

The website PuckPedia’s PuckGM tool lets users create their own trades. One user proposed a deal that would see the Maple Leafs acquire Mika Zibanejad from the New York Rangers.

Maple Leafs acquire:

• Mika Zibanejad

Rangers acquire:

• Max Domi

The proposed deal would be a one-for-one blockbuster as Toronto would acquire Zibanejad, who can be the Maple Leafs’ second-line center. The Rangers, meanwhile, get a middle-six forward, but more importantly, get off of Zibanejad’s contract.

Zibanejad is in the fourth year of his eight-year, $68 million deal with the Rangers. He has a full no-movement clause, but his name has come up in trade rumors. The Swede would be a great second-line center for the Maple Leafs, which is a need for Toronto. He recorded 20 goals and 42 assists for 82 games.

In return, the Maple Leafs would trade Domi, who had his struggles last season and could be moved. Domi has three years left on his four-year, $15 million deal. He would be a second or third-line player for the Rangers. Domi recorded 8 goals and 25 assists for 33 points in 74 games.

Insider Links Zibanejad to Maple Leafs

With the Rangers wanting to trade Zibanejad, one insider believes he’ll be a good fit with the Maple Leafs.

NHL insider Jonas Siegel of The Athletic named Zibanejad as a trade target for the Maple Leafs this offseason to upgrade at center.

“With J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck down the middle, would the Rangers have any interest in moving Zibanejad’s contract, which has another five years remaining and a cap hit of $8.5 million?,” Siegel wrote. “More importantly, would Zibanejad be interested in waiving his no-move clause? If so, the Leafs need to have a meeting or two about it because Zibanejad is probably the best player in this entire bunch…

“He wouldn’t bring the same fire as Kadri or jam as Schenn. But, he upside is so much higher. He also happens to be 6 feet 2 and over 200 pounds (bigger than Kadri and Schenn) and younger than both (32). If he bounces back to what he produced even two seasons ago, 72 points, the price point on the contract will feel right,” Siegel added. “The five years remaining on that deal might make the Leafs squeamish, yet would still be a lesser commitment (and cap hit) than a free agent such as Bennett will likely require.”

Zibanejad can be a point-per-game player in the NHL, and he would add some much-needed secondary scoring to the Maple Leafs roster.

Rangers Insider Expects Team to Move on From Zibanejad

Zibanejad has been a star player for the Rangers for years. But, the team may now move on from him.

After a disappointing season, New York is looking to shake up their roster, and Zibanejad’s name has come up in trade rumors. NHL insider Arthur Staple of The Athletic reported that parting ways seems likely.

“There’s a chance that Drury has already worked it out with Zibanejad, who has five years at a $8.5 million average annual value remaining plus a full no-move clause, that moving on would be best,” Staple wrote. “They’d still need to find a fit. The Leafs might have some interest and some space to fill. But trading Kreider’s BFF soon after dealing Kreider would produce the impact on cap flexibility and team culture Drury so badly wants.”

Zibanejad is a one-time NHL All-Star.