The NHL offseason is in full swing, and trade rumors are swirling around the Toronto Maple Leafs like a summer storm. One name that keeps popping up is Colorado Avalanche center Ross Colton.
According to insider Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff, Colton is a prime trade candidate this summer, and the Leafs are reportedly among the interested parties.
Insider Buzz Suggests Leafs Eyeing Ross Colton to Bolster Depth and Grit
Colton, a 27-year-old two-way center, would be a perfect fit for new Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe’s system. He’s a relentless forechecker, a strong penalty killer, and a capable scorer. In 80 games with the Avalanche last season, Colton tallied 17 goals and 23 assists for 40 points.
The rumored trade scenario involves the Leafs sending winger Calle Järnkrok and defenseman Timothy Liljegren to the Avalanche in exchange for Colton. Järnkrok, a reliable veteran, would provide the Avalanche with much-needed penalty-killing expertise and secondary scoring. Liljegren, a promising young right-shot defenseman, would add depth to Colorado’s blue line.
For the Leafs, acquiring Colton would address several needs. He would provide another scoring threat in the bottom six, improve their penalty kill, and add a dose of grit and tenacity to their lineup. Colton’s playoff experience would also be a valuable asset for a team that has struggled to get over the hump in recent years.
Of course, trade rumors are just that – rumors. There’s no guarantee that a deal involving Colton will materialize. However, the fact that his name keeps surfacing suggests that there’s at least some smoke to this fire. Leafs fans will be eagerly watching to see if their team can pull off a move that could significantly improve their chances of contending for the Stanley Cup.
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I don’t see that trade giving Colorado much cap relief.
Jarnkrok get $2.1M/yr for the next two years.
Liljegren is a RFA with arbitration rights. His numbers will probably get him $3+ mil (some project $4M).
they’re spending $5.1+ M to replace a $4M guy. They’re getting a dmen who the Leafs would be walking away from because of the $3+ mil likely arbitration.
To me, doesn’t make sense for Colorado.