Rangers set a very high asking price for Alexander Georgiev.

The New York Rangers and the Toronto Maple Leafs have reportedly been talking trade, but it sounds like the Rangers are trying to extract a price from the Maple Leafs that Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas may be very hesitant to pay.

In a recent article for The Athletic, Toronto Maple Leafs insider James Mirtle revealed that the Leafs and the Rangers had been talking trade for some time. Specifically Mirtle revealed that surprising Rangers goaltender Alexander Georgiev was at the center of those trade discussion with the Maple Leafs attempting to acquire him, presumably in an effort to secure a more reliable backup goaltender to play behind Toronto Maple Leafs starter Frederik Andersen. It is a move that would finally allow the Leafs to take some of the pressure off of Andersen, something that the Leafs have been trying to do for a few seasons now. 

The main obstacle to this trade getting done however has reportedly been the drastic difference in the price that the Rangers are asking for when compared to the price that the Maple Leafs are willing to pay. Mirtle had a breakdown of what both sides were looking to give up or acquire in this deal and needless to say the gap between Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas and Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton is a fairly significant one. 

From Mirtle:

Both teams have kept trade talks quiet, so specifics are somewhat lacking. But it’s believed that the Leafs are willing to part with futures – including someone like AHLer Jeremy Bracco – in order to land Georgiev. The Rangers, however, are asking for more established players, presumably, the likes of Leafs forwards Kasperi Kapanen, Andreas Johnsson or Alexander Kerfoot.

Regardless of which of those 3 forwards the Rangers would want, a 1 for 1 trade involving any of those names simply would not make sense from the Maple Leafs' perspective. Each of those forwards contributes significant minutes for the Maple Leafs and although all 3 have come up in trade rumors as of late dealing them for Georgiev simply wouldn't make much sense. Although the Leafs would like to lighten Andersen's workload the reality is they can not pay that high a price for a goaltender that may only play a few games for them down the stretch this season.