Maple Leafs being linked to a significant St. Louis Blues forward

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S. Harper
May 19, 2022 (3:15 PM)

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The Toronto Maple Leafs announced this past week that their entire management team would be returning next season. This includes Kyle Dubas, Sheldon Keefe and Brendan Shanahan. Despite a disappointing playoff finish, the Maple Leafs set franchise records for both points and wins this season. The Maple Leafs feel like they're close to getting over the hump, but they just haven't been able to take that next step, so begins the process of trying to find a player who can help them take that step.

Kyle Dubas, is looking to fix that by watching the teams that remain in the playoffs and it sounds like he's not afraid of making a blockbuster deal, especially if it's going to help the Maple Leafs finally take that next step. According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the plan in Toronto is to add someone in the top six who plays with grit, and makes the team more difficult to play against. Yesterday, Friedman made an appearance on Sportsnet Radio 590, and revealed that the Maple Leafs could be looking at St. Louis Blues' winger, David Perron.

Perron, is a Sherbrooke, Quebec native, who won a Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2019 and could add a bit of sandpaper to the Leafs' top six. The 33-year-old has recorded at least 20 goals 6 times during his NHL career. The only obvious issue Friedman revealed was that the Maple Leafs have very little cap spaceat the moment.

Perron is coming off of a 4-year deal that paid him $4,000,000 per season. The former 1st round pick (26th overall by the Blues in 2007) registered more than a point per game in 2020-21, with 58 points in 56 games and followed that up with a 27-goal, 57-point season Perron will almost certainly be looking for one final payday.

If the Leafs want to make a move like this work they're going to have to get creative or be willing to finally admit that the Core 4 isn't going to get them over the hump.