With the trade deadline quickly approaching, one name that has surfaced as a potential target for contenders is Seattle forward Jared McCann, and he could be a perfect fit for the Maple Leafs.
It's no secret the Toronto Maple Leafs are going to get some type of deal done by March 7. Whether it's for a third line center, or defensive help -- the team is gearing up to make the best trade possible.
But if they wanted to add both a center and a scoring winger to their arsenal, they should look to Seattle Kraken forward Jared McCann , whose name has recently surfaced in trade talks.
With Toronto needing some defense and scoring on their third line: Is McCann the right fit? Let's take a look.
Jared McCann Would Add Best Of Both Worlds For Maple Leafs
Though it took awhile for McCann to get his stride, the Stratford, Ontario native has scored 96 goals and 86 assists in 233 games over the past three seasons including a 40-goal campaign in 2022-23.
He's a reliable scorer, plays the penalty kill, can slide in and out of the second or third line depending on situation and is a sneaky good playmaker. He has that clutch factor as well, scoring 22 game-winning goals in his 10-year NHL career.
His possession metrics are down a bit this season, but over the last three seasons has been close to 60% -- a fantastic number all things considered and he plays very similar to Yanni Gourde; another potential Leafs trade target.
Adding McCann to the lineup would allow Toronto to spread their depth out a little bit more as well:
Knies - Matthews - Domi
Nylander - Tavares - McMann
Pacioretty - McCann - Marner
Lorentz - Kampf - Holmberg
With Toronto linked to names such as Brayden Schenn, Scott Laughton, and the aforementioned Yanni Gourde, he offers the best of both term and financial cap.
Schenn costs $6M for the next three years, Laughton has two years left at $3M, and Gourde is a one year hit of $5.16M.
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