NHL insider has linked the Maple Leafs to a blockbuster trade before the deadline passes

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Daniel Lucente
December 4, 2024 (11:59)

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Several NHL insiders seem to be on the same page that the Maple Leafs are going to make a blockbuster deal before the season's trade deadline passes.

The Toronto Maple Leafs must balance improving their forward depth without sacrificing their defense. General Manager Brad Treliving will have to be very calculated to get the team's needs without overpaying.

On the 'Real Kyper and Bourne' show, speculation came up about one of the more audacious trades that could be done to shake up the Leafs roster.

Analyst Nick Kypreos predicted confidently that Toronto will make a move prior to the trade deadline. He suggested that Pontus Holmberg's current spot in the lineup is merely a stopgap to buy the team some time while they plan their next step.

Co-host Justin Bourne pressed Kypreos for a timeline and he would not get specific, only to say that a big deal might be coming, particularly before this season's trade deadline.

"Still a cap issue, we're excited the [salary] cap's going up. But it's not going up in the next three months, so there's some juggling on that front, and see how things open up.

Teams are now figuring out the contenders and pretenders, but they're winning, they're in a great position to win the Atlantic, there's no race to get a centerman today."

- Nick Kypreos

Among the names thrown out was Nazem Kadri, adding some serious speculation of a reunion. Considering everything, Kadri would fit perfectly in Toronto. He carries lots of experience and a winning pedigree.

A consistent scoring veteran forward with strong defensive play, faceoff ability, and, of course, the important voice of a Stanley Cup champion, Kadri has 301 points in 367 games since leaving Toronto, including an 87-point career-best season in his Cup-winning campaign in 2021-22.