[Dion]

Right on cue

Second, the fact is that the 28-year-old star would be committing the rest of his career to stay in Minnesota and on a team that hasn't won a playoff round in 10 years and has gotten out of the first round just twice in its history. That is probably something he doesn't want to do -- so Kaprizov might just be eyeing up other destinations.

That is why the Toronto Maple Leafs need to get in on the action. The pending unrestricted free agent, if not re-signed in the next couple of months, could be the best trade deadline rental piece since the salary cap has come to the NHL.

Second, the fact is that the 28-year-old star would be committing the rest of his career to stay in Minnesota and on a team that hasn't won a playoff round in 10 years and has gotten out of the first round just twice in its history. That is probably something he doesn't want to do -- so Kaprizov might just be eyeing up other destinations.

That is why the Toronto Maple Leafs need to get in on the action. The pending unrestricted free agent, if not re-signed in the next couple of months, could be the best trade deadline rental piece since the salary cap has come to the NHL.

Now is the time to strike and pour every resource they have when a player like Kaprizov is available. It is still incredibly uncertain even if a trade is on the table -- since the Wild themselves have playoff hopes and dreams. But in a month or two, and if Minnesota falters ever so slightly to start its season, we know that there will be teams hounding general manager Bill Guerin to see how much it would take to pry the Russian star out of St. Paul; and the Leafs need to be one of them.

Easton Cowan, Ben Danford, virtually every prospect and draft pick that the Leafs have possession of for the next four or five years -- send them to Minnesota to try and get this MVP-level star for even just a few months and really try.

https://editorinleaf.com/maple-leafs...irill-kaprizov