Another Leafs-Hurricanes trade on the table this summer!?

Ever since Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nazem Kadri got suspended for the rest of the series against the Boston Bruins for a cross-check to the head of winger Jake DeBrusk, pundits believe GM Kyle Dubas will be willing to move him this summer to make room on the salary cap to re-sign free agents, most notably Mitch Marner, Andreas Johnsson, and Kasperi Kapanen.

While Matt Larkin of The Hockey News thinks it’s a good idea to consider a Kadri trade, he believes things will be clearer for Toronto if they can win the first round series and move on into the playoffs without his help. If it occurs, Larkin believes the Leafs management could pull it off to acquire a “right-shot, two-way, top-four presence.” He thinks shedding money would allow them to get “Brett Pesce-type” blue liner.

It isn’t the first time the Carolina Hurricanes defenseman has been linked to Toronto this season. Back in November when the Maple Leafs were caught in the William Nylander RFA impasse, it was rumoured that Dubas was often in contact with the Hurricanes to potentially pull a blockbuster trade to acquire Pesce. 

Pesce is currently playing out the first year of a new six-year deal that he signed with the Hurricanes, one that comes with a very reasonable cap hit of just barely over $4 million per season.

That’s a major positive for the Leafs, looking for as much money as possible in order to re-sign Marner and the rest of the RFAs. They also need to think about signing or replacing unrestricted free agents Ron Hainsey and Jake Gardiner.

Kadri carries a $4.5-million salary-cap hit over the next three seasons and has amazing two-way skills and feistiness that would entice the Canes, especially if Micheal Ferland signs elsewhere this summer. 

His latest suspension might have almost convinced the Leafs to free up some cap space and move him. We will be able to tell you in about three games…