THE RUMOR LEAKER - Leafs should target Centre Ryan Strome!!!
Posted 9:12 AM ET | Comments 0
The 2015 NHL draft has come and gone. Excitement was a plenty, as there were some significant trades, and some interesting draft choices within the first round. From a Toronto Maple Leafs stand point, Mitch Marner was their first choice at number four. The London Knights superstar was excited to be drafted by his favourite team Friday night. Toronto clearly had a plan in place, and executed it to their fullest potential. Drafting highly skilled players was what they wanted to do, and was what they followed through with. Having said all this, form a trade Perspective, Phil Kessel, Dion Phaneuf, the two key names that people expected to be traded come Friday, still remain Maple Leafs. Now, we all know how difficult it is to make trades, let alone, draft or trade for a young front line Centre--Enter Ryan Strome. Ryan, the soon to be 22 year old Centre could and should be a target for the Maple Leafs. Islanders GM, Garth Snow just might be willing to move Ryan...for the right price. now, enter, Phil Kessel. Phil is a proven 35 goal scorer, and a top 10 scorer in this League. Now, imagine Phil on a line with John Tavares...YIKES!!! talk about a a scary Line combo. the Islanders are hitting that CUP CONTENDER discussion....and bringing in a 27 year old Phil Kessel would very well make them a definite contender. from the Leafs stand point, you would be getting a young Franchise-type centre you can finally build around. Imagine your Core foundation of young players to build around look like this: R.Stome - Centre, M.Marner - Winger, W.Nylander - Winger/Centre, M.Reilly - Def, T.Dermott - Def. Not a bad foundation if you ask me. Now.....what offer could the Leafs put on the table for Strome you ask. you start will the Kessel talk, and from there another piece or two could do each way. Brendan Shanahan and Co. need to be creative in trying to obtain a young centre and I believe this is where their heads need to be at.