The Toronto Maple Leafs have found their rhythm after a slow start to the season. With a playoff push underway, Toronto is expected to be active ahead of the trade deadline as the Leafs look to strengthen their lineup. That search has now drawn attention to a $27.3 million defenseman, though at least one NHL insider is urging caution.
Why Is One Insider Urging Caution As Maple Leafs Are Linked to a $27.3M Blueliner?
The Leafs are coming off a dominant 5-0 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday and have climbed into fifth place in the Atlantic Division.
However, Toronto’s need on the blue line has become more pressing due to injuries. Chris Tanev is likely headed for season-ending surgery, while Dakota Mermis is also out, forcing the Leafs to scan the trade market for help.
In a piece for The Athletic, NHL insider Jonas Siegel identified Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson as a logical target, noting that “Andersson makes a lot of sense for the Leafs in a vacuum.”
Siegel explained that Andersson could slot in on a top pairing alongside Jake McCabe. He’d also be a candidate to run the point on the top power-play unit, easing the workload on Morgan Rielly and Oliver Ekman-Larsson by pushing everyone else into more comfortable roles.
There’s also a familiarity factor. Leafs GM Brad Treliving was Calgary’s general manager when Andersson was drafted in 2015 and watched his development firsthand.
Still, Siegel raised major concerns about the cost. Toronto’s pool of trade assets is limited, and it’s unclear whether Calgary would be interested.
“Does putting Easton Cowan and Ben Danford together do enough for Calgary? Do the Leafs need to add their second-round pick in 2027 to sweeten the deal? The answer is almost certainly not.”
He questioned whether it even makes sense for an aging team with thin prospect depth to give up so much for a defenseman who turns 30 early next season and will require a new contract.
Any team trading for Andersson would likely do so with an extension in mind, assuming he’s willing to commit long term. That could work in Toronto’s favor, but the price won’t be low. Siegel suggested Andersson’s next deal could fall anywhere from a five-year, $6 million cap hit similar to Mike Matheson’s contract, to a bigger seven-year deal worth around $7 million annually like Jake Walman’s.
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For now, it remains to be seen whether the Leafs make a serious push for Andersson. Up next, Toronto is set to face the Colorado Avalanche on Monday.
