The Toronto Maple Leafs have struggled to find consistency this season. They currently sit third from the bottom in the Atlantic Division and are coming off a rough 6-1 loss to Utah on Tuesday. That setback followed a strong stretch during which Toronto had won four straight games.
Still firmly in the playoff mix, the Leafs are expected to look at ways to strengthen their roster. That said, one insider has questioned whether they can realistically land one of their rumored targets.
Insider Casts Doubt on Leafs’ Ability To Land In-Demand NHL Forward
Vancouver Canucks forward Kiefer Sherwood has emerged as a player of interest for Toronto. Sherwood is in the final year of his two-year, $3 million contract and is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Recently, however, he suffered an injury that has left him day-to-day, causing him to miss two games. The exact timing of the injury remains unclear.
Despite the injury, Sherwood remains a popular name on the trade market. He has put together a strong season, recording 17 goals and 23 points in 44 games. He’s also been heavily involved physically, firing 109 shots on goal and delivering 210 hits, the second-most in the league.
Speaking on the Donnie & Dhali podcast, Rick Dhaliwal provided an update on Sherwood’s injury and trade outlook.
Dhaliwal noted that Sherwood has stayed with the team despite being sidelined, unlike Thatcher Demko, who recently left the group after getting hurt. He added, “Trade wise, teams gonna wait and see if he is healthy at the break regarding trading form. I always wondered for trading for a injured guy, so we’ll wait and see.”
Dhaliwal also suggested that Toronto may be at a disadvantage due to its lack of trade assets. “Maple Leafs like him, but they don’t have the assests,” Dhaliwal said. “Look at the assets given up in the last few years, 1st round, 2nd round, they’ve been going it for every year, so I don’t think there’s ton of assets there.”
READ: Maple Leafs Rumors: Toronto Notified of Asking Price For Brayden Schenn Trade
The Leafs aren’t alone in their interest. TSN insider Darren Dreger recently linked Sherwood to the Ottawa Senators, noting that Ottawa’s approach will depend on how the team performs over the next several games. “I see a fit with the Ottawa Senators, but first the Sens have to start climbing back into the playoff conversation before the GM gets that aggressive,” Dreger said.
For the moment, Sherwood’s future is still up in the air. His health will play a major role, along with which teams are in the strongest position to make a deal, as the trade deadline draws closer.
