We’re only a few days away from the March 7th Trade Deadline, and after that, it’s a 20 game sprint to the playoffs. As has been the case throughout the Matthews era, the Leafs are positioned as buyers: they’re leading the Atlantic division, and have a loaded roster (though a roster with a few noticeable holes). In this article, I’ll cover three players that the Leafs have been linked to, as well a long shot trade that’s fun to imagine. Over the past few weeks, we’ve covered a possible Dylan Cozens trade (here), as well as a potential trade with the Canadiens (here).
This year’s trade deadline is intriguing in prospect, but it feels like some of the larger pieces might ultimately stay put. Winger Mikko Rantanen is dominating headlines for his apparent refusal to commit to Carolina long-term, and could be on the move again if the Hurricanes get spooked at the prospect of losing him for nothing come summer. But for another team to trade for him, there would need to be a contract in place, and unless Rantanen has a clear idea of where he wants to play, a summer free agency saga feels more likely.
Beleaguered Canucks sniper Elias Petterson will generate interest, but the reason he’s on the trading block in the first place (his complete lack of production this year) will make any potential suitors wary of his 11.6 million AAV.
Puck-moving defenseman Erik Karlsson could be on the way out from Pittsburgh, with the Penguins contending window slamming shut and Karlsson never really meshing well there, but again, who wants to take on that much money? Karlsson seems beyond washed on the defensive end, and 11.5 yearly for a power-play specialist won’t fly with any serious contender. Pittsburgh would have to retain massively to make a deal work. However, with Kyle Dubas’s penchant for being active at the deadline, I could see Karlsson going somewhere.
Finally, Brad Marchand is the final marquee name that has come up in rumours, with the Bruins struggles this year. However, I don’t see him moving-he’s 36, a captain, and a lifelong Bruin. If the Bruins even explored this I think they’d over-estimate his trade value and likely not come to an agreement with any team.
Could the Leafs kick tires on any of the above names? I’ll give my take at the end of the article. First, let’s explore a few more realistic options that could certainly happen. The Leafs need a third line center and a depth defenseman, at the very least. Here’s a few options:
Brayden Schenn, Center, St. Louis Blues
Schenn is a gritty, hardworking center and a proven winner. He won the cup with the Blues back in 2019, under current Leafs coach Craig Berube, and Berube has always had great things to say about him.
Schenn’s career stats show that while he’s not an offensive dynamo, he’s more than capable of contributing, even as he gets older (he’s 33). His leadership and gritty style certainly suit Berube’s vision of how hockey should be played.
Stats courtesy of www.hockeydb.com
There are, however, a few downsides I can think of with acquiring Schenn. I expect the Blues to try and start a bidding war, only trading him if they can force a team to overpay. The Blues are only a point out of the playoffs at the time of writing, and could be more than happy to hang on to their captain. Early reports regarding a Schenn trade were that they want a strong prospect and a first round pick for Schenn, which seems excessive-especially considering his 6.5 million dollar cap hit, which the Leafs would need to get very creative to fit into their team. Any retention on the part of the Blues would only jack the price up further.
There could also be a bit of apprehension from Leafs fans when they see the team linked to an aging, gritty player who brings leadership. Nick Foligno was a bust in Toronto, and in theory he brought a similar style.
My verdict: It’s probably not a good idea to bring in Schenn unless the price is lower than it’s rumored and the Blues retain a bit of salary.
Scott Laughton, Center, Philadelphia Flyers
Laughton, a truculent center who has spent his entire career in Philadelphia, is another option for the Leafs. He’s a great penalty killer and is a bit of a Swiss-army-knife out on the ice, doing a lot of stuff really well. He’s 30, so he’s a younger option than Schenn, with more long-term upside. His cap hit is also only 3 million, and he’s signed through the end of next season, which looks like great value. He’s also from Oakville, so this move would represent a homecoming of sorts. Sounds great, right?
Well, yes and no. Laughton offers less offense than Schenn, which is problematic for the Leafs, who need depth scoring badly. The jury is still out on the recent Nick Robertson-Pontus Holmberg offensive eruption. If both players can keep it going, as well as Max Domi contributing more in the back end of the season, things will look better. But if the depth scoring goes away again, Laughton is not the fix. His career high in goals is 18, and he’s got 11 this year so far.
Stats courtesy of www.hockeydb.com
It’s tough to nail down Laughton’s value in a trade. On one hand, his cap hit is affordable, and he’s signed through next year too. He’s an objectively good player. His lack of offense will, most likely, drive the price down.
My verdict: I think he’s a more realistic add than Schenn, and a trade package for him shouldn’t mortgage the future in any serious way.
Luke Schenn, Defense, Nashville Predators
Third time’s the charm?
Luke Schenn (Brayden’s brother) is someone who I think of as a quintessential Leaf in some ways, despite only playing a handful of seasons for the Leafs throughout his long career. He started his career in Toronto, with four solid seasons, and returned in 2023, helping the team get the first round monkey off their backs. He’s been in Nashville ever since, but another reunion makes sense: He’s playing really good hockey, throws massive hits, and is signed at 2.75 per year. The AAV is a bit high, but I think he’s worth it.
Stats courtesy of www.hockeydb.com
As you can see, Schenn is not an offensive factor at all, but he’d still be a legit playoff upgrade over one of Connor Timmins or Philippe Myers. And stockpiling defensemen at the deadline is a tried and true tactic for playoff success.
My verdict: I’d love if Luke Schenn came back for another tour of duty in Toronto. His salary is a bit high for what he offers but Brad Treliving should have no trouble moving pieces around if the price to acquire Schenn isn’t too high.
Erik Karlsson, Defense, Pittsburgh Penguins
Please hear me out for a second on this one.
The Leafs should want no part of Karlsson at his AAV, an unsightly 11.5 million per year for 2 (!!) full seasons after this one.
But the Penguins are absolute toast for the foreseeable future, and if Kyle Dubas can be persuaded to cut his losses, I think there’s an opportunity here. If the Penguins retain 50% salary (knocking his cap hit down to 5.75 per), he could fit into the Leafs salary structure. Still expensive, but not a number to scare the Leafs away.
Remember I said Karlsson is little more than a power-play specialist at this point? Well, the Leafs are one of the few teams who truly, desperately need one. Close your eyes, if you will, and imagine Erik Karlsson blue-lining the Leafs power play, snapping it around to Matthews and Nylander. I’m a Morgan Rielly fan forever, but he’s much more suited to a PP2 than the main unit. And check this out:
Stats courtesy of www.hockeydb.com
He’s been bad in Pittsburgh, no doubt. But that last season in San Jose was generational. And while he can’t really play defense, the Leafs current defensemen can. Think of Tanev, McCabe, and Ekman-Larsson. There are a few possible ways to try and shelter him while he racks up points and unlocks the offense in a new way. In a weird way, he’d solve some of the Leafs secondary scoring woes as a defenseman. He’s that good offensively, a creative force even late into his career.
One caveat: I don’t want to see him on the ice at the same time as Morgan Rielly ever. That would be an absolute horror show.
My verdict: If Dubas is somehow persuaded to retain 50% then go ahead. This would be the big swing that many in Leafs nation crave. It might work, it might not, but it wouldn’t be boring.
What do you think? Are they any players that you think the Leafs will target ahead of the Friday deadline? Let me know in the comments, and thanks for reading!
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