Maple Leafs Still Looking For One Last Upgrade

Brad Treliving has done a great job with the Toronto Maple Leafs this offseason by moving Mitch Marner, who was leaving anyways, for Nic Roy, and also acquiring Matias Maccelli, Dakota Joshua, and Henry Thrun. All signs point to the team wanting one more upgrade though.

David Pagnotta stated that "they're still looking for a top-6 guy. They'd still like somebody on the right side." Whether Max Domi or Maccelli is moved down to the third line once a top-6 player is acquired (through trade), either can play the left side. What likely makes the most sense money-wise is moving Calle Jarnkrok the other way. This would free up a third line spot for either one of them and make the forward group look even deeper than it does right now.

A lot of players have moved this offseason, so the options for Toronto aren't plentiful, but there will be players that fit what the Maple Leafs are looking for becoming trade candidates. Whether it takes a little time into August for some more trades around the league to start happening again or it's mid-season and Toronto can't upgrade how they want further, I think they are in a good position this season. They always needed to move off of one of the core four and Marner seems like the right choice.

Maccelli should do just fine in the top-6 for now. In his rookie season, he scored 11 goals and 49 points in 64 games before following that up with 17 goals and 57 points in 82 games before struggling last season. It was the perfect time for the Maple Leafs to acquire him at a lower cost as he is very capable of bouncing back while playing with better players in Toronto's lineup than who he was lining up with in Utah.

But realistically, Domi and Bobby McMann are good third line players, so adding a right wing for the first or second line at some point between now and the trade deadline is the only upgrade it seems like the Maple Leafs need barring any injuries. Although it seems like William Nylander should play on the top line, Maccelli would do well with at least one of the top goal-scorers, and not just John Tavares. It will be interesting to see how the lineup shakes out, but Toronto will remain all over top-6 options moving forward, even if it's just short-term additions.