The Toronto Maple Leafs and Nashville Predators are taking two different routes to start their respective 2024-2025 campaigns. The Maple Leafs have fared well with an 8-5-2 record through their first 15 games, while the Predators have been surprisingly disappointing with a 4-9-1 record through their first 14 games. Even though it’s impressive offseason signing Steven StamkosJonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjeithe Predators have failed to establish dominance in the way many fans expected out of the gate.
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The slow start has been acknowledged by the Predators general manager Barry Trotzwho explained it would consider making some changes if the team cannot find the win column. “I’m trying to do some things right now,” Trotz explained. “We will be a little bit limited because of some of the contracts we do have. If we don’t get it going, I’m going to start our rebuilding plan.” Insider Darren Dreger clarified that while the comment could be taken out of context, the team is still considering making a jump in an attempt to turn things around.
If the Predators choose to make a few trades to shake things up, there are a few players who could be intriguing trade targets for the Maple Leafs. Let’s take a quick look at two players they could consider adding to their team for a playoff run this season.
Dante Fabbro
The first potential trade candidate is right defenseman Dante Fabbro, a 26-year-old from Coquitlam, British Columbia. He was drafted by the Predators in the first round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft at 17th overall after an impressive performance in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) with the Penticton Vees where he scored 14 goals and added 53 assists for 67 points through 45. games, which equates to an average of 1.49 points per game.
Dante Fabbro, Nashville Predators (Jess Starr/The hockey writers)
Fabbro has played 315 games in the NHL, scoring 16 goals and adding 56 assists for 72 points, for an average of 0.23 points per game. He has developed into a strong two-way defender who can play well in a top four role. This season he has no points in six games and has struggled to stay in the lineup, which is a bit of a surprise. With what will likely be labeled as a slow start, Fabbro can still bring a lot to the Maple Leafs lineup.
Fabbro would find himself in the third pairing with the Maple Leafs, below both Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Chris Tanev on their depth chart when it comes to right-shooting defensemen. Placing him there gives him sheltered minutes as he tries to bounce back from his slow start, and it bolsters their defensive depth in the process. Fabbro is currently on a one-year contract worth $2.5 million, which is very affordable for any contending team looking to go all-in for a playoff run. While the Maple Leafs may have to spend some money to make a trade work, they shouldn’t have a hard time getting a deal done. Additionally, the Predators still have a retention slot open and could keep some money on their books to increase the return on a potential deal.
Lucas Schenn
The second player the Maple Leafs could look at is another defenseman, 35-year-old Luke Schenn from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Schenn has played most of his career with the Maple Leafs and would likely welcome a reunion if they were interested in re-signing him. He has been a solid depth defender throughout his career, and he would be a perfect third-pairing defender who wouldn’t break the bank. He is in the second season of a three-year contract worth $2.75 million per year and as I mentioned before, the Predators could retain some cash to make a deal happen.
This season, Schenn played fourteen games and scored one goal. Although he has never been an attacking defender, his defensive game has always been strong. With 1,010 games in the NHL under his belt, he has scored 44 goals and added 155 assists for 199 points, for an average of 0.20 points per game. While Fabbro may be the most attractive piece, it may cost less to land Schenn. Schenn has played well, but if the Preds decide to retool and look for some prospects, or draft picks, or even trade defensemen to change their lineup, the Maple Leafs should bring him in.
Stay tuned as the 2024-2025 season progresses The hockey writers as your source for news from the NHL and the hockey world.
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