Leafs trade would send multiple pieces to Hurricanes for Alexander Nikishin in blockbuster proposal
Photo credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
A Leafs trade idea sends Oliver Ekman-Larsson, a Colorado first-round pick and minor assets to Carolina for unsigned RFA defenseman Alexander Nikishin.
A Maple Leafs fan account floated a trade that would bring Alexander Nikishin to Toronto.
In the idea, the Leafs send defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, a Colorado Avalanche first-round pick and a few minor assets to the Carolina Hurricanes.
To be clear, this is a fan idea and not a report, so treat it as a what-if.
Why Nikishin is available
The 24-year-old restricted free agent is still unsigned and asked Carolina for a trade after the club won the Stanley Cup.
He missed Hurricanes training camp because he has no contract.
As a rookie last season, he scored 11 goals and 33 points in 81 games.
Toronto has been linked to him while it looks for an impact left-shot defenseman, and he is reportedly seeking around $9 million a year on a long-term deal.
The Leafs have already made noise this season by landing Kirill Marchenko and sending out Matthew Knies, and Emil Andrae also left in a reworked version of that deal, which leaves an opening on defense.
What the Leafs would give up
Ekman-Larsson is 35 and carries a $3.5 million cap hit through 2027-28.
He put up eight goals and 39 points last season, his best total since 2018-19, and he has a modified no-trade clause, so he would have a say in any move.
The Avalanche pick came to Toronto in the Nicolas Roy trade.
Chris Johnston of TSN reported the Leafs still plan to use that pick and some young prospects to chase immediate upgrades.
Carolina would get a veteran and a first-round pick, but it would also lose a young Cup winner.
The bigger question is whether Nikishin would sign long term in Toronto at all.
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