3 Toronto Maple Leafs 2023 Trade Assets

The Toronto Maple Leafs are trying to finalize a few trades before the March 3 trade deadline. General manager Kyle Dubas has been busy attending hockey games in person as he's been getting a closer look at some of the talent other teams have to offer. Here's who Dubas may be using in upcoming trade packages as these three Maple Leafs trade assets are likely in play:

Topi Niemela

The former third-round pick is still just 20 years old and developing nicely into what looks like a top four defenseman. Niemela has been playing in Europe since the Maple Leafs drafted him in 2020, and looks as though the talents there to one day be a power-play quarterback. The right-handed Niemela is the Maple Leafs best defensive prospect and if any big trade goes down for a defenseman, look for Niemela to be included in the trade package.

Joseph Woll

The Maple Leafs saw Woll for four games last season in an impressive debut and all he's done this season is battle some injuries early on, to then burst onto the scene in 2022-23 with an 11-game winning streak to start his season. Woll is 11-0-0 with a 2.55 goals against average and a .925 save %. With Matt Murray and Ilya Samsonov not going anywhere, Dubas will likely move his top goaltending prospect for some talent up front.

Fraser Minten

The Maple Leafs aren't trading Matthew Knies so he won't be included here, however a number of teams have asked about 18-year-old Fraser Minten. He showed well summer development camp last year and the Leafs then signed him to an entry-level deal shortly after. Minten has continued to dominant the WHL and looks as though he has top-six talent written all over him. He was selected in the second round of the 2022 draft and has put up 41 points in 32 games this season, including 20 goals. Minten will be included in a Leafs trade if a big-time forward is coming back the other way, like a Timo Meier from San Jose or Ryan O'Reilly from St Louis.

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