Ranking the Players the Toronto Maple Leafs Should Move at the Trade Deadline

It is clear that the Toronto Maple Leafs are heading in a new direction with the number of players who have already been moved. It hasn't quite been a scorched-earth policy, but if the salary cap didn't exist, you get the sense the organization would be moving at least half of the current roster.

Cody Franson, Mike Santorelli, David Clarkson and Daniel Winnik have all been moved in the past two weeks. Outside of Clarkson, the rest of these players were victims more of the team's salary-cap issues rather than their play. 

It seems clear the Leafs are not done, although trading some key players, given their high salaries and terms, is going to prove very difficult.

Let's take a look at a ranking of the players the Leafs should move at the deadline.

4. Tyler Bozak, Centre

Tom Mihalek/Associated Press

Tyler Bozak, Centre, Games: 62, PTS: 39, CF%: 45.5, Age: 28, Cap Hit: $4.2 million

Tyler Bozak is a serviceable NHL centre, he's just not a first-line centre. On a top NHL team he'd be a strong third-line centre capable of taking on second-line minutes when needed.

Bozak doesn't do any one thing very well, but he is an underrated passer who would be useful playing against third-pairing defenders on a regular basis.

Despite playing with two of the better offensive wingers in the game, Bozak has a five-on-five Corsi For percentage of 45.5 this season. Last year it was 42.9.

His offensive numbers are buoyed by playing with talented wingers, James van Riemsdyk and Phil Kessel. Playing on a good team, with reduced minutes, would likely see him earning 30 to 40 points most seasons.

With a salary that is not too onerous, don't be surprised if Bozak moves at the trade deadline.

3. Joffrey Lupul, Winger

Carlos Osorio/Associated Press

Joffrey Lupul, Winger, Games: 35, PTS: 19, CF%: 46.2 Age: 31, Cap Hit: $5.25 million

The native of Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, has been an effective scorer at many times throughout his career. However, the larger narrative with Lupul has been his injury history. He hasn't played more than 70 games in the NHL since the 2008-09 season with the Flyers.

He's played in just 35 with the Leafs this year and has 19 points. Much like Bozak, he's also never been a strong possession player despite getting a lot of top-six minutes for most of his career. His Corsi For percentage has never been over 50. It's just 46.2 this season.

But in 635 career games, he has scored 193 goals. Sniping wingers are not easy to find.

In a second- or third-line role, Lupul could be a good player for a team looking to make a deep playoff run.

2. Dion Phaneuf, Defenceman

Billy Hurst/Associated Press

Dion Phaneuf, Defenceman, Games: 50, PTS: 23, CF%: 44.5 Age: 29, Cap Hit: $7.0 million

With a $7 million cap hit, Dion Phaneuf is going to be challenging to move. At 29 years old, it's also difficult to argue that his best years are ahead of him.

His 23 points in 50 games is actually quite good, but with what he's being paid, he is expected to be an elite defender. He's better than what many of his detractors see him as, but he's not one of the top defenders in the game.

He's a No. 2 or No. 3 defenceman on most of the top 10 teams in the NHL.

His Corsi For percentage is not good, but he does play most of the tough minutes for the Leafs against the top offensive lines. Obviously Phaneuf will be difficult to move, but if the team is truly looking to rebuild, he should be at, or very near, the top of the list.

1. Phil Kessel, Winger

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Phil Kessel, Winger, Games: 62, PTS: 50, CF%: 45.6 Age: 27, Cap Hit: $8.0 million

Phil Kessel has been one of the best goal scorers in the NHL over his past three seasons with the Leafs, scoring 80 goals. He ranks ninth over that time. With nine more goals, he'd be ahead of Joe Pavelski for second place on that list.

He offers what most teams do not have, a player who scores often and can change a game with his dynamic skill off the rush.

He is not built to be a leader, and in a city that craves hockey heroes, he's not equipped to be a media star, as detailed in this Sportsnet article. 

Moving Kessel is no easy task, though, for general manager Dave Nonis. There are seven years left on his contract and few teams have that kind of cap space to take on his contract.

With an obvious focus on rebuilding the Leafs, Kessel has to top the list of players to be moved in order to wipe the slate clean. Despite his excellent offensive numbers, he's not been able to lead them to being a playoff-contending team outside of one lockout-shortened season.

All advanced stats can be found on Puckalytics.com. All regular stats are from NHL.com. All salary information is from NHLNumbers.com.