In an article today in The Athletic (Subscription Required), Jonas Siegel offered four arguments on why the time is nigh for the Toronto Maple Leafs to make a big splash at the trade deadline. The Maple Leafs have a pair of holes to fill in their lineup but the Eastern Conference seems more wide-open than in years past.
Siegel outlines Toronto’s lineup needs clearly. The team needs a legitimate option at the third-line center position and a right-handed shooting top-four defenseman. The Maple Leafs already have right-handed shot defensemen such as Chris Tanev, Jani Hakanpää (injured), Conor Timmins, and Philippe Myers. Still, Tanev is arguably the only one of the quartet that should command top-four minutes.
Siegel argues that Toronto should target a defenseman like Colton Parayko rather than short-term options like Luke Schenn or David Savard. An acquisition of Parayko would have plenty of challenges to overcome largely due to the full no-trade clause in his contract. Still, given that he’s averaging over 24 minutes a night with the St. Louis Blues, has already scored 12 goals in 55 games, and is known for his shot-blocking and physicality, Parayko is an ideal trade candidate for the Maple Leafs.
Ryan O’Reilly of the Nashville Predators was the only player mentioned as a potential candidate to take over third-line duties. He’s on a remarkably affordable $4.5MM salary through the 2026-27 season without trade protection and already has familiarity with the Maple Leafs organization. Whether it’s O’Reilly or another center, Toronto must improve upon Pontus Holmberg, who went scoreless in the Maple Leafs’ opening-round loss against the Boston Bruins in last year’s playoffs, as their third-line center.
As much as a big splash may satisfy Toronto’s needs, a lot rests on how much they’re willing to part with at the deadline. In the last five years alone the Maple Leafs have traded a first-round pick to offload the contract of Patrick Marleau, Trevor Moore in a package for Jack Campbell, Mason Marchment for Denis Malgin, a first-round pick for Stefan Noesen, a first-round pick to offload the contract of Petr Mrázek, a first-round pick for O’Reilly, and another first-round pick for Jake McCabe.
Some of those trades worked out better than others but Toronto has only managed to move beyond the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs once over that stretch. All those moves were made during the last administration guided by Kyle Dubas, and current general manager Brad Treliving took a different approach last year. The highest-valued asset that Treliving moved at last year’s deadline was the New York Islanders’ 2024 third-round pick in a package for defenseman Joel Edmundson.
Siegel points out that the only way the Maple Leafs will manage to make any splashes is if they’re willing to move prospects such as Fraser Minten, Easton Cowan, or Ben Danford, and their 2026 first-round pick. Toronto has not indicated an eagerness to include any of the previously mentioned assets but it’s difficult to disagree with Siegel’s thinking.
Yes
That was easy…
Toronto will make a move at the trade deadline, but don’t expect a big splash especially if they’re not open to moving one of their top prospects or their 2026 first round pick. Also, Toronto only has a trade deadline cap of $2.97M so they don’t have a lot of room to work with.
They should do whatever it takes to get Parayko.
Agreed he’s exactly what this team needs. He also knows the coach and would fit in perfectly with the style that Chief has brought to Toronto
They’ve needed a top pair right shot forever.
They waited so long on Tanev that he was no longer it.
Oh ya, it was Pontus Holmberg who watched Marchand skate away and score the series winner.
Marner, Kampf, Timmins for Schenn, Parayko, a 1st and 2nd.
STL only does this if they have an extension in place for marner
doubt it happens because he’s a bruin but Geekie would be a fine 3C addition as an RFA. could even potentially slot in to 2C if they resign him and let Tavares walk or bump him to 3C if resigned.
So for D, Parayko would be great but would require some salary retention and likely a Domi, Kampf or Reaves moved before the trade to clear some cap.
the Leafs don’t lack assets (other than a 1st in 2025) as they have some decent prospects and young players, but a big splash will be hard.
a Schenn/Schenn trade deadline would work but again requires decent money going out still.
If we can unload Domi, I’m not opposed to taking back a LW with term.
IMO, goaltending and top 7-8 D is fine. Might find a depth defenseman for a pick.
Biggest need is still the same need they’ve had for two years— middle six C. They’re going to work the phones hard for a solution that doesn’t cost one of Minten, Cowan, or a 1st– I imagine everything else is on the table. Would Pittsburgh look at Niemala or one of the goalies and a 2nd for Malkin? Being able to deploy Tavares at LW is a huge bonus.
“Would Pittsburgh look at Niemala or one of the goalies and a 2nd for Malkin?”
Uh, no.
Niemela has been a healthy scratch in the AHL. The prospect shine has fully worn off. Trade value is probably zero.
Any serious conversation involving Malkin would include a top prospect like Cowan and I doubt Treliving has any interest in that.
In hindsight, they will regret not selling off.
Toronto needs some heart and soul players for the playoffs that contain some skill. It’s the same story every year, their skill players disappear in the playoffs and if lucky they scratch their way out of the first round. One of their core 3 needs to go for someone who doesn’t fold in the playoffs. Not gonna speculate who or for whom, but it makes the most sense at this time in their build to relevancy. Matthews, Marner, and Nylander are built great for the regular season. But they and their other fringe core (Tavares, Rielly) tends to disappear come playoff time. Good luck beating that same dead horse again Leafs fans.
Exactly. It’s a hell of a lot more damning that Auston Matthews scored just one goal in that series than that Pontus F’n Holmberg came up empty, of all the fingers to point.
I said years ago rielly was a problem. doesn’t hit, doesn’t really play defence. if they can find someone to take him it would benefit them.
i would laugh myself to pieces if they traded for o’reilly again, he left for a reason