This entire season, people have been demanding that Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving should make a trade for a defenseman, and rightfully so.
Outside of Morgan Rielly, the Toronto Maple Leafs defense group has been incredibly inconsistent. This includes, John Klingberg, who may have been the worst signing of the entire 2023 off-season.
Despite, the likes of Simon Benoit and Jake McCabe having started to play much better as of recent times, the Leafs need to make an upgrade before the playoffs.
The Toronto Maple Leafs still need another strong defenseman (or two) to round out their group if they want to be serious Stanley Cup contenders, and the perfect candidate is Jakob Chychrun.
Here’s why the Leafs should trade for him.
Despite having high expectations heading into this season, the Ottawa Senators have been one of the worst teams in the NHL. The Senators are currently last in the Eastern Conference and 30th in the entire NHL, including 7 points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets who are sit in 2nd-last in the East.
This team needs to sell at the trade deadline.
It is unfortunate to see this happen to Ottawa (even as a Leafs fan), especially considering Chychrun has been playing very well for them this season.
Jakob Chychrun has a strong 26 points in 36 games this year with Ottawa, which puts him on pace for 59 points over an 82-game season. These 26 points would also put him 6th on the Leafs in scoring.
The Leafs could use the extra scoring from their blueline, as after Morgan Rielly’s 32 points so far, no Leafs defenseman has more than 14.
Chychrun is also on a very good contract. Of course, the Leafs cap situation isn’t perfect, but with Chychrun signed at $4.6 million for the rest of this year and next year, they can easily make room for him, especially with all of their expiring contracts after this season.
Chychrun can skate well, score lots, play solid in his own zone, and is on a great contract with another year on it. It may cost a lot to get him in a trade, but that’s what it’s going to have to cost if the Leafs want to go all-in on a defenseman. Most of all, he gives the Leafs someone who at least has the upside to be a number-one defenseman
If Brad Treliving does decide to make a big move to improve the Leafs defense group, Chychrun is a near-perfect fit.
