25-Year-Old Utah Hockey Club Defenseman Pops Up on Maple Leafs Radar Ahead of Trade Deadline
Photo credit: Imagn Images
If the Toronto Maple Leafs want to reinforce their defense before the playoffs, Michael Kesselring could be an ideal trade target.
As the NHL pauses for the 4 Nations Face-Off, some teams like the Maple Leafs are preparing for potential moves ahead of the trade deadline.
What are the priorities for the Toronto Maple Leafs in they were to make a trade?
While Toronto has been actively searching for a third-line center, improving their blue line could be just as crucial if they want to have some success in the playoffs.
Michael Kesselring brings the kind of two-way game the Leafs could benefit from and he is known for his solid puck-moving abilities, responsible defensive play.
Michael Kesselring can be compared to Jake McCabe, but he offers the bonus of being a right-shot defenseman which is rarer.
This season, Kesselring has scored 22 points in 56 games and has been praised for his tenacity and willingness to battle in tough areas on the ice.
His affordable $1.4 million salary signed through next season, adds to his appeal for a team like Toronto, which is navigating tight salary cap.
The Leafs' current top-four defensemen include McCabe, Chris Tanev, Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Morgan Rielly but adding Kesselring to the third-pairing would provide more depth.
His ability to contribute offensively is a bonus, particularly for a Leafs team that struggles to generate offense from their blue line.
However, acquiring Kesselring won't come cheap and the Leafs may need to part with a top prospect or a high draft pick to secure his services.
If Toronto is serious about helping their defense with Michael Kesselring, they'll need to quickly move on a trade since other teams are likely to show interest in such a polyvalent player.
| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 12 | 143 ANSWERS 25-Year-Old Utah Hockey Club Defenseman Pops Up on Maple Leafs Radar Ahead of Trade Deadline Do you think the Toronto Maple Leafs should trade for a player like Michael Kesselring? | ||
| Yes | 81 | 56.6 % |
| No | 62 | 43.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
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