With the Toronto Maple Leafs on their second losing streak of at least four games this month, you have to think that the Maple Leafs are starting to think more and more of the NHL Trade Deadline. It is, after all, only 32 days away.
We have already looked at the goalies, defensemen and left wingers. With the right wing position, it gets really interesting. Three players listed on the Leafs’ website are unrestricted free agents at the end of the season. Nathan Horton is also listed as a right wing, but is not included in this list as his career needs a miracle to be resumed.
Brad Boyes
Stats: 38 Games Played, 5 Goals, 9 Assists, 14 Points, -5, 12 Penalty Minutes
Boyes was drafted by the Leafs 24th overall all the way back in 2000. It took him 15 years, but he finally played a game for them this season. However, after earning a one-year contract, it really hasn’t gone as well as he hoped. A healthy scratch at times, Boyes has been stuck in the bottom six and hasn’t really been given the chance to do more. If there is one of player on this list that won’t be traded, it’s Boyes.
Michael Grabner
Stats: 46 Games Played, 6 Goals, 5 Assists, 11 Points, +6, 4 Penalty Minutes
Grabner was acquired by the Maple Leafs just prior to the season in exchange for five prospects in order to clear contract space. While he started off slowly, he picked up his game when he was placed in the top six alongside Nazem Kadri. While he, along with every other Leaf at the moment, is having trouble producing offense, the Leafs should be able to trade him for something around a third-round pick.
P-A Parenteau
Stats: 48 Games Played, 11 Goals, 12 Assists, 23 Points, -1, 26 Penalty Minutes
Well, if anything, Parenteau has proved that his season was at least a little bit of a fluke. The Montreal Canadiens would make him a healthy scratch on more than one occasion near the end of the season, even though they had offensive troubles. Now with the Leafs, Parenteau has already beat his total from last season in eight less games. Teams looking for offense at the trade deadline will probably look at him as a cheap rental.
So with the possibility there that these three players might not be Maple Leafs after February 29, the Leafs will have to rely on call-ups from the Toronto Marlies or any players (or should I say bad contracts) they get in return. Kasperi Kapanen, Connor Brown or Zach Hyman could be potential replacements. We only have a month to see what will actually happen.