Report: Dubas sets price for potential rental pickups

Toronto Maple Leafs general manger Kyle Dubas set market ahead of this month’s NHL Trade Deadline by acquiring defenseman Jake Muzzin from the Los Angeles Kings late last month.

Dubas acquired Muzzin, who is signed through the 2019-20 season, in exchange for two prospects (Carl Grundstrom and Sean Durzi) and a first-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. It was a steep price to pay, but so far the gamble has paid off for Dubas and the Leafs. 

Earlier today a report from NHL insider Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet seemed to indicate the the Leafs and Kings were also discussing forward Kyle Clifford while negotiating the Muzzin trade but, obviously, Clifford didn’t end up as part of the deal.

Check out Friedman’s report from his latest 31 Thoughts column for Sportsnet:

Can’t be sure, but there are rumblings Toronto GM Kyle Dubas asked about Kyle Clifford when he was talking to Los Angeles about Muzzin. Dubas knows Clifford from his days working at Uptown, which still represents the winger. Clifford has a great reputation, and a contract Toronto could fit. Those, of course, are two reasons L.A. is happy to keep him.

Interestingly enough, Clifford is signed through the 2019-20 season at a reasonable $1.6 million which makes his exclusion from the deal particularly interesting given the price Dubas has reportedly set for acquiring players without term.

In the same Sportsnet article, Friedman went on to explain that Dubas has refused to include top prospects Timothy Liljegren or Rasmus Sandin, along with a first round pick in any potential deal for a “rental” player.

Check it out:

The Maple Leafs told potential trade partners they will not move Timothy Liljegren, Rasmus Sandin or a first-round pick for a rental.

It makes sense when you think about it… I mean, look at how badly the Bruins got burned by giving up their top pick for a two months of Rick Nash last season. There’s no guarantee in rental players, so it makes sense that Dubas would hang on to his most valuable young assets unless he gets a player, like Muzzin, with some term in his contract.