Rumor: Mark Scheifele Could Be On His Way Back Home

While Mark Scheifele is heading into his 30s he is still a top six option for a contending team. Last season Scheifele put up 68 points in 81 games. This is around where Scheifele has been sitting for the last 2 or 3 years as far as points go. His contract is also up at the end of the upcoming season and reports indicate he is unlikely to re-sign.

One team that Mark Scheifele has been linked to is the Toronto Maple Leafs. Scheifele is from Kitchener, Ontario so this would be a homecoming of sorts for him. For the Leafs they add another high-profile forward to their mix.

There are two things that could be a bump in the road for the Leafs to acquire Scheifele. The first is cap space the Leafs are already up against the cap and would have to move several contracts or get help from another team to make the deal work.

The second issue is a possible lack of assets to give the Jets. As of now, the Jets are likely looking to reload their roster for a quick turnaround. This would mean the Leafs would have to give up young roster players such as Matthew Knies or Nick Robertson in a deal. Even if the Jets were looking to acquire future picks instead the Leafs are starting to run low on those as well.

Either way, Scheifele is an option the Leafs should consider trying to get. He is a good offensive center with plenty of playoff experience. This deal would likely happen more towards the deadline if the rumors become reality to bring Scheifele's price down. This would also give the Leafs time to figure out their Salary Cap situation as well.