Done Deal : Matthews Trade and singing $13.25 million cap hit Toronto Maple Leafs

 

The Toronto Maple Leafs are exploring options to bolster their center depth before the March 7 trade deadline, with NHL insider Elliotte Friedman identifying a potential under-the-radar fit. That player is San Jose Sharks forward and former No. 15 overall pick Luke Kunin, who fits the Leafs’ plans for bolstering their forward depth ahead of March. Friedman mentioned Kunin as a perfect target during Friday’s episode of the “32 Thoughts” podcast, highlighting Kunin’s skill set as a match for what Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving might be seeking. “That’s a kind of player I think Berube and Treliving would like,” Friedman said. Kunin, 27, has 11 goals and 7 assists in 51 games this season, matching exactly his output from last season but with plenty of games remaining on the schedule. The Sharks center can take on various roles and positions, however, as he’s been used on both wings as well as deployed on penalty-killing and power-play units by San Jose.

 

A former first-round pick in the 2016 NHL draft, Kunin is a gritty, physical forward with over 800 career hits on his resume spanning 410 regular-season games. Kunin has 14 games worth of postseason experience, but he’s not been there since he left the Nashville Predators after the 2021-22 season. Kunin’s $2.75 million cap hit also makes him a relatively affordable rental option, as he’s set to become a free agent in the summer. Treliving, speaking on Jan. 13, confirmed Toronto’s focus on adding center depth while cautioning against unrealistic expectations — and it’s fair to assume Kunin falls in the “realistic” side of that equation.