A Trade pitch has Kraken trading former 4th overall pick

Larsson, drafted fourth overall in the 2011 NHL Draft, has solidified his game with the Kraken. However, with Seattle likely not contending for the Stanley Cup, a user on PuckPedia's PuckGM tool proposed a trade involving the defenseman headed to Toronto.

maple leafs receive:

Adam Larsson

kraken receive:

Timothy Liljegren

David Kampf

2025 second-round pick (Florida's)

The trade offers a balanced deal for both teams. Toronto gains a veteran defenseman in Larsson, who at 31 is in the final year of his four-year, $16 million contract. Last season, Larsson tallied 4 goals and 14 assists over 81 games. He would slot in as a second-pair right-shot defenseman, making the Leafs' blue line much harder to crack.

For Seattle, Liljegren is the centerpiece-a 25-year-old former first-round pick with room to grow. Recently signed to a two-year, $6 million extension, he hasn't yet seen significant minutes with the Leafs, but he could thrive in a larger role with the Kraken. In addition, the Kraken would receive a second-round pick to further bolster their future prospects, along with Kampf, who can bring stability to the bottom of their lineup.

Heading into the offseason, Toronto made it clear that defense was their primary focus. General Manager Brad Treliving highlighted this priority after the 2024 NHL Draft.

«Well, I think there's lots of priorities. I think for us, I don't think it's a secret. Our defense is an area that we'd like to see if we can improve,» Treliving said on June 29. «You know, easier said than done. But that's certainly an area that we've been focused on I would say we're looking to add more than one.»

Toronto wasted no time in addressing this, signing Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson to multi-year contracts.

After missing the playoffs last season, the Kraken made aggressive moves in free agency. On July 1, they signed star defenseman Brandon Montour to a seven-year, $50 million deal. Montour was a key player for the Florida Panthers in their Stanley Cup win, posting 11 points in 23 playoff games.

Shortly after, the Kraken locked down forward Chandler Stephenson with a seven-year, $43.75 million contract. Stephenson, who helped Vegas win the Stanley Cup in 2023, had 51 points in 75 games last season.

«It's an exciting day for the Kraken organization and our fans, right?» Kraken GM Ron Francis said. «It just goes to show that players want to come to Seattle. They want to play for this organization. They want to play in front of our great fans.»