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NHL Rumors: The Toronto Maple Leafs Should be Looking to Make a ‘Hockey Trade’ and Not for a Rental
The Toronto Maple Leafs should be looking to make a 'hockey trade' for some one with term or an RFA, and not a pending UFA. Apr 24, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) defends Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Brandon Hagel (38) during the third period of game four of the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Sportsnet: Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne on the Toronto Maple Leafs trying to make a hockey trade and not going after a rental.

** NHLRumors.com transcription

Bourne: “Is there any chance they would trade players who are good players in hopes of just becoming a different looking team? As in, you know, (Timothy) Liljegren, but you’re still getting the current player back or even bigger name or getting a current player to that trade for hockey sake.”

Kypreos: “The tendency now is because over the years, we’ve built up this trade deadline is the focus is on UFAs, UFAs. I’m with you. Go find RFAs.”

Bourne: “Yeah.”

Kypreos: “Go do a real hockey trade, that, that changes the makeup of this team without borrowing a rental.”

Bourne: “Right”

Kypreos: “Right. Go like, there’s no Cliff Fletcher trades for Doug Gilmore, and how many guys were involved in that one, guys?”

Bourne: “Seven guys, 11 guys, I don’t know, a lot of humans,”

Kypreos: “But that’s almost what the Leafs need right now.”

Bourne: “Yeah.”

Kypreos: “They need a three or four out and three or four in.”

Bourne: “And you know why? Because you know what you have out of the top and it’s a special group of guys. And so if this isn’t working below it, I’m with you. We just, there’s some games, just throw your cards and get new ones.”

Kypreos: “It has to be names that we were not talking about. It’s not, it’s not (Noah) Hanafin and (Jakob) Chychrun.”

Bourne: “No, it’s Brandon Hagel.”

Kypreos: “It’s, it’s exactly Hagel.”

Bourne: “You know, it’s someone who’s out there.”

Kypreos: “Someone who’s 24, 25 and if it does cost you a first rounder, you know whatever’s coming back is going to stick around for the next three or four years.”

Sam McKee: “How many times can we do this?”

Bourne: “Because it it could be different.”

McKee: “Why don’t we change out the bottom six again, it’s like …”

Bourne: “Then trade Marner for Roman Josi and Juuse Saros. I don’t know.”

McKee: “Sure, this is the seventh version of the bottom six.”

Kypreos: “That’s what happens when you haven’t won in 56 years.”

McKee: “Team A. Team B. It’s like a ship that new team B coming on in. Bring on Team B again.”

Kypreos: “But what choice…”

Bourne: “Not allowed to address team A.”

Kypreos: “Unless…”

McKee: “Don’t look at him in the eyes.”

Bourne: “Or you’ll turn into stone.”

Kypreos: “Unless you think that, the hope is that these guys will turn it around, Sammy.”

McKee: Maybe this time. Surely this time will be different. We should go.”

Kypreos: “All right. Don’t call me Shirley.c

This article first appeared on NHL Rumors and was syndicated with permission.

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