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How Maple Leafs can trade for Zach Werenski even with big salary originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Toronto Maple Leafs could be a landing spot for Zach Werenski.
The Columbus Blue Jackets have to actually commit to trading the superstar defenseman first, but if that happens, keep an eye on Toronto.
"The one Canadian team that the Team USA Olympic gold medal winner might consider, by the way, is the Toronto Maple Leafs," The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun said over the weekend.
One obvious connection, of course, is Auston Matthews. The Maple Leafs' captain was also the United States captain at the Winter Olympics as they won the gold medal over Canada.
The Maple Leafs are also a marquee franchise in a big market with high expectations. After a rough season in Columbus, maybe that's what Werenski is looking for.
Would a trade actually work, though?
MORE: What the Gavin McKenna pick means for the Maple Leafs
How Zach Werenski's contract would fit with Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs actually have more cap room than you might think.
Even after getting Darren Raddysh signed, they have more than $22 million in open space, according to PuckPedia.
Werenski has a salary of about $9.5 million per year. He's not cheap, but he's worth every penny of that number.
It's also worth remembering that the Maple Leafs might end up trading away Morgan Rielly, who has a cap hit of $7.5 million per year. If that happened, it'd almost cancel out a Werenski acquisition.
The bigger question is what it would cost in assets to get Werenski in a trade. Matthew Knies? Easton Cowan? In the end, the return price will be what determines Toronto's final plans here.
More NHL news:
- Jack Eichel turned into Ben Simmons
- Frederik Andersen heading toward an unceremonious exit
- Cale Makar is about to become a lot more expensive
- Sidney Crosby trade plans did a 180 for the Penguins
- It's time to ask a serious Matthew Knies question
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