Does An Erik Karlsson Trade Make Sense For The Toronto Maple Leafs?
Pittsburgh Penguins star defenseman Erik Karlsson is entering the final season of his current contract, and recent speculation about his future is linking him to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Does GM John Chayka have what it takes to acquire Karlsson, and does he make sense as a target?
Video Transcript
Yeah.
Well, a- anything short of a Stanley Cup is now a failure, Ryan.
So let, let's just start there.
Let's just start right there.
But, but honestly, you know, the expectations should be sky high from where they were a year ago.
And a year ago, you know, this is a team that missed the playoffs and ended up with the number one overall pick.
And I would challenge you to find a team in the NHL that had a more productive off-season than Toronto.
And you, you really outlined it there.
Like, it, it started with Gavin McKenna, and it just continued by winning the free agency with Darren Raddysh coming in to bolster that blue line.
I, I think the one X factor is the health of Chris Tanev and whether Sergei Bobrovsky can still get it done at the age that he's at.
But, you know, th- this should be, for sure, a playoff team.
I would dare to say it should be a top three team in the Atlantic division.
I think I see a scenario where it's Montreal, Florida, and Toronto all jockeying for those top three spots.
But really, the, the Toronto Maple Leafs, you know, last year in my mind was an anomaly.
The- this is sort of the same expectations that you had two years ago, which was, you know, maybe not Cup or bust, but it should be a team that gets in the playoffs and does some damage.
Drew, you did not grow up with blue and white colored glasses on, in Colorado.
Objectively speaking, what did you think of the Leaf's summer and, and what are your expectations for Toronto?
Well, I agree.
I don't think there's a team in the NHL who had a better off-season.
I think that a lot of people were I mean, I know a lot of people in the media didn't love the John Chaika hire right away, but I think he's done a phenomenal job.
I think that for them to have success this year, I think it kinda comes down to a couple different things.
I think, A, they need to make the playoffs.
Like, that has to happen.
I think they need Gavin McKenna to have a good year.
And then I also think it's a really big year in terms of the new direction that the team is going, convincing guys like Auston Matthews that they're to believe in kinda what they're doing there and want them to be a part of it for years going forward.
