Chris Kreider: the player the Maple Leafs must get

After predicting that the Stars and Panthers would make it to the conference finals (and being wrong about the other two series), I still think these two clubs are the two best still alive.

I think they’ll dispose of the Oilers and Hurricanes in six games each to reach the Stanley Cup Final.

This will have the effect of reopening the debate on the place of taxation in the world of sport. In fact, it may already do so, since the people who live in Edmonton and Raleigh aren’t the most taxed in the world either.

Réjean Tremblay talked about this in his paper of the day.

Of necessity, we have to admit that there is a trend. Teams that don’t have a tax advantage have found themselves further and further behind in the playoffs in recent years.

And that’s why solutions are needed.

For the Maple Leafs, who missed out on the playoffs again this year, picking up a top-6 player (to potentially replace Mitch Marner) who’s got the chops and doesn’t earn too much could help.

Sam Bennett is a name that comes up a lot, but he’s going to be expensive. But if it has to be done, Brendan Shanahan Brad Treliving will do it, obviously.

But why not go after a player who already has a relatively affordable contract and who could change the Maple Leafs’ dynamic… like Matthew Tkachuk did in Florida?

David Pagnotta, on this subject, talked about the fact that Chris Kreider will surely still be up for trade this summer in New York. And he linked the Maple Leafs to the issue.

We agree that Kreider, who earns $6.5 million a year until 2027, would be a game-changer for Toronto. Here’s a top-notch player who plays with dog and could benefit from a change of scenery to energize the Maple Leafs’ playoff attack.

After all, he’s not like the other guys in Toronto: he stands up when it counts.

And at that price, that would leave money to go out and find depth to help replace Mitch Marner, if he really leaves. It all adds up in this scenario, it seems to me.

Will the Rangers, who want to free up salary, choose Toronto for Kreider? No idea. But the Queen City club must give it a try.

extension

Because the first two rounds of the playoffs are over, we now know the rankings of the first 28 picks in next month’s draft.

Here’s what it looks like.