The writing is on the wall for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Firmly shifting their eyes toward selling, the Maple Leafs announced they had scratched Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Scott Laughton, and Bobby McMann ahead of the trade deadline. The term they used in their announcement was “roster-management purposes.”
Although no deal is close on any of the trio, it’s the first indication that Toronto recognizes that the 2025-26 season is lost. The Maple Leafs are 0-3-1 since the Olympics, being outscored by 10. They have fallen nine points back of the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Assuming they finish outside of a playoff spot, it’ll be the first time in a decade that the Maple Leafs have failed to qualify for the postseason. The biggest looming issue is that Toronto is projected to be without its first-round pick in the upcoming draft. The selection was moved to the Boston Bruins last season in the Brandon Carlo trade, but is top-five protected. As of right now, the Maple Leafs are projected to have the 11th overall pick, which would be of immense value to Boston.
All three of tonight’s scratches have been mentioned in trade rumors of late.
Defenseman Ekman-Larsson is in the second year of a four-year, $14MM contract. He’s been a solid top-four option for the Maple Leafs, scoring 12 goals and 64 points in 138 games, averaging 20:57 of ice time. Still, despite adding some physicality, Ekman-Larsson has seen his possession and defensive metrics drop mildly since joining Toronto.
According to The Fourth Period, the Dallas Stars, Edmonton Oilers, and Utah Mammoth are interested in Ekman-Larsson. After acquiring Tyler Myers from the Vancouver Canucks earlier today, the Stars’ reported interest may have evaporated.
Meanwhile, Laughton and McMann are both expiring assets that have the flexibility to play up and down any team’s lineup. Laughton’s scoring output has dissipated throughout his first full year in Toronto, but he remains quite responsible in the defensive zone and has a 56.7% faceoff percentage this season. The Maple Leafs acquired Laughton at the last deadline for Nikita Grebenkin and a first-round pick.
McMann would likely have the most trade value of the group. He has scored 19 goals and 32 points in 60 games this year and is on an incredibly affordable $1.35MM salary. Toronto should have no shortage of phone calls on the pending unrestricted free agent over the next few days. Still, it’s important to remember that Toronto is attempting to sign McMann to a multi-year extension if the price is right.
Judging by the other trades the last couple days, moving these three should net the Leafs a couple of 1sts and a couple of good prospects. Now if they could only move AM and Willy this summer…..
They need to trade Mathews, Nylander and Reilly and start over preferably with a new GM.
So you want the current GM, who you don’t trust, to trade their best players, then be replaced? Bruce, do you ever bother to think prior to posting?
when was the last time you saw a team rebuild by trading EVERYTHING?
this trade Matthews and Nylander stuff to rebuild is why basement computer needs are not in management.
maybe in the offseason they approach one or the other (not likely), but this team misses the playoffs one season and people argue it’s time to blow up the whole thing.
they do need change is personnel on and off the ice, but gutting it of Nylander AND matthews sets them back 3+ years minimum
@bruce. I completely agree.
@money. These are just people‘s opinions and right or wrong. I think everyone is entitled to one. Having a healthy discussion is a good thing. And I agree with you that the current GM should not be the one taking on a rebuild. However, I do disagree and I think they should trade everyone if the return is good prospects, young NHL players, and future draft capital. This team is lacking sorely in leadership. It’s been 10+ years with the same core pretty much, and they haven’t gone past the second round, so what makes anyone think things will change in the next five? The DNA of this team needs to be completely changed. Again, just my opinion from a lifelong leafs fan.
The writing has been on the wall for Toronto, For decades.
Toronto is hopeless. They rebuilt and had 3 elite players, and added Tavares and accomplished nothing with it.
Lol the Panthers and Bruins are down and the Leafs are…down.
Moving one of Matthew’s or Nylander seems important, especially if they want to be able to be competitive enough to be in the McDavid bidding. You could get a nice package for Matthews. They’ve traded Sittler & Clark, and acquired Gilmour & Sundin (latter for Clark). Time to swing big.