Leafs Trade Rumors

09 May 2026 18:04:04
Tor: Matthews.

Min: Faber, Boldy.

09 May 2026 16:32:12
Going off the board here. I think a darkhorse for Matthews could be Washington.

Caps
Matthews $13.25M
Carlo $3.5

Tor
Strome $5M
Protas $3.375M
Hutson $.940M
2026 1st(16 OA)
2026 1st ANA

Caps get a new franchise player in Matthews, as well as a solid #4 RD in Carlo. They have cap space.

Toronto picks up a solid 2C in Strome. Big power winger in Protas. Puck moving D in Hutson and 2 more 1sts in this draft. Also cut about $8M in cap space. Except for Strome at 29, rest are 25 or younger.

09 May 2026 15:49:52
I have no interest in trading Matthews. If there’s any truth to him mot being committed to this team I’d stripe him of the C, remind him he’s an employee and not entitled to an explanation of the team’s future. Also remind him of his contractual obligations, tell him see you for training camp, don’t bother bringing your equipment and sitting him in the press box where he can pay for his own drinks and guesses until we maximize our return. And if you don’t wave you don’t touch any ice associated with the team: no practice, nothing.

You attend every preseason game, every regular season game, every practice and just sit there until a trade to our satisfaction goes through. I’d also like the league and NHLPA but an amendment that there are clauses the last two years of your contract and if you ask to be moved then you automatically waive. We can have players holding teams hostage and we can’t get Marnered again.

09 May 2026 15:54:32
So who is going to be our #1C if Strome is our number 2 and Matthews is gone?

09 May 2026 17:11:14
LeafsGM. In a perfect world. Sure. But I am pretty sure you know it isn't going down like that.

Suggesting. Tons of cap space. 2 extra picks in the 1st round. One move doesn't mean it's all done and here's the roster.

09 May 2026 17:41:07
Should be Suffering, not suggesting.
Leafs added a point producing D, a 2C and a top 6 power winger along with two 1st round picks and it's about who is going to be the #1C. So, you expect a prop with a number #1C in return for a #1C?

09 May 2026 17:49:27
It is a perfect world, there’s nothing stopping the Leafs from doing this as Matthews has apparently said he is committed and the Leafs can keep him out for roster management like at the deadline and I would never hand out another contract with any clause in it til the last year or two and I think it’ll only take a couple of GMs and the dominoes will fall.

09 May 2026 17:51:07
Oh and if you violate anything in your contract we are suing you for 200 million dollars so we recoup every cent we’ve paid you and every cent you’ll make here on in

09 May 2026 17:55:49
Obviously I’m upset if there’s any truth to this. I was advocating for him to stay up until this. If you feel Toronto isn’t a contender it was for nine years.

You just had to show up when it mattered. It’s on you. You were the guy, so now you sit. And if we win the cup your name will be added to the cup with non-participate beside it.

09 May 2026 18:18:08
@RLF Well it is already a Prop for a #1 C for a #1 C becase Strom is Washington's #1 C and he would be here as well if Matthews is gone. So now we still need the #2 C. I think we are reaching though asking for that 2nd 1st round pick as by putting Carlo in the deal we aren't addressing anything on the defence Washington needs. We are talking a young offensive D-man with Hutson and Washington is still looking to replace Carlson but not with a Carlo. So the 2nd 1st round is a stretch.

I like your return package (Other Than asking to much with that extr 1st.) but I think maybe Matthews is the wrong guy in the Package. I think Nylander is the better Choice to put in there.

I'm on the same page with you here not starting a long debate. But If Nylander went it doesn't help Washington at the Centre position but it does give them a Scoring Winger to help Protas Jr. Make his transition as a NHL Centreman easier. By swapping out Matthews for Nylander, we now have Protas Senior taking Nylander's Spot and we Still Have Matthews with Strome as the #2 C and J. T as the #3. Now we are stronger down the Middle and Have a Massive Winger Either Knies or Protas on the First line with another Massive Winger Either Knies or Protas on the Second line. It might not to you but to me that seems like a improvement up front.

09 May 2026 18:25:08
Ya the only thing with that is Nylander's contract is going to look really palatable in a year or two and I think he’s a lifer but I’d still put the hook in the water with hopes of being wrong.

09 May 2026 18:53:42
Well, for starters, if he reports to training camp and you tell him not to bring equipment, I am pretty sure the NHL and NHLPA would be involved in your plan very quickly. By sitting him out, you will never maximize your return. If anything... teams will wait out the scenario while our salary cap keeps taking a hit, and we will get low-ball offers and the longer it drags out the worse the offers get, for two reasons. One, they know we would start to get desperate because now we are working with a limited roster and would be limited on call-ups for amount of games related to their contracts for clearing waivers, etc., while we have a healthy scratch player taking up that spot. The second reason is with him not playing. The other teams have no idea if he has found his game or lost it even more.



I can tell you are angry about all of this. But we have not heard this directly from Matthews, or directly from the new (ugh) GM. It is being put out there by reporters. Reporters for teams not in the playoffs get paid by the stories they bring in of interest and controversy.

That said... we have all been talking about trading Matthews or Nylander or whoever for months not because they don't want to stay here, but because they are our only way of making a major shakeup in the lineup be it rebuild or retool or a combo of the both. Now we also have the 1st overall pick so we have two major ways of changing the makeup. The sun will rise tomorrow no matter what happens.

09 May 2026 19:08:24
Hey man, I totally agree with you. I'm willing to forfeit to prove a point and change the business. This is, I think, it’ll take the hockey universe to change the world, and I'm willing to accept the consequences.

09 May 2026 19:20:37
Well, we are stuck with the no-trade format as it sits until at least 2029-2030. That is when the new CBA is in effect. There are rumblings that it will be the biggest topic going forward. How much Leewy will be made is hard to say. Once you have given concessions, it is harder to get them back.

09 May 2026 19:56:28
No, we aren’t. Just don’t offer those contracts and sit guys that won’t waive.

09 May 2026 20:46:59
Are you saying that’s the way you would run this team or the whole league should conform to this?

09 May 2026 21:01:18
I think the dominos would fall if a few GMs do this. I think they all do it eventually. Why wouldn’t you, to not be held hostage at the end of a contract and to hold the player accountable for the length of the contract, as a GM? Why wouldn’t you want this to be the new normal.

09 May 2026 21:25:14
What would happen is you would get a have and a have not league. Owners will never land together on things. They might say in a room full of other owners they would, but they will do what they always have done. Look out for themselves in a effort to win and maximize their revenue.

In other words, say you have half of ownership groups that will say we are not going to give out no Trade contract, and the other half says they are fine with the way it is. After a couple of years of half of the league signing all the free agents because they can get those clauses in their contracts. How long will it take for the other half of the league to start following suit after they miss the playoffs year after year, for not being able to get free agents and also having their own drafted players eventually leaving for the same resons.

09 May 2026 21:43:37
Suffering. So, as long as a player is in a certain position on a team, that means they are that calibre of player? Leafs #1D this year was arguably OEL. So if Leafs traded for Makar and OEL went to Colorado, it was a trade for two #1 D-men? No way you would believe that. You're a knowledgeable guy, but this willing to say anything trying for "gotcha" is beneath your hockey knowledge.

For instance, in no world is anyone calling Strome a true #1 centre and saying now the Leafs need a #2 if Matthews goes the other way is something I know you don't believe. I'm not really interested in disingenuous debates.

09 May 2026 22:01:44
They have no premise to get involved and I’d pay that roster price to tell every young punk you don’t dictate or hold hostage an nhl team you’re an employee shut up and go to work. I don’t think it’ll last long enough for his return to be diminished not to mention the return will greatly diminish the last year of his contract Nic Roy yay

09 May 2026 22:54:30
Geez RLF. I am saying that if Matthews is gone, then Strome will be our Number #1 so we need another Centre whether that other Centre is a #1 that pushes Strome to # 2 or we find another solid similar to Strome so we have 3 solid Centres. Either way we still have a hole to fill that was not filled.

I did give an alternative with Nylander that I think addresses the needs better by keeping Matthews. I am not after any Gotcha moment for crying out loud. I liked your targets, but I think Nylander going there might be a better solution than Matthews is all.

09 May 2026 23:05:36
Geez GM.... You are going to give yourself a stroke. You are going sideways on what is still only a reporter's rumour that he doesn't want to stay here. If that is the case and it is true, then we don't have to sit him out. We don't have to sue him for millions. I am sure if he says to Management that if you are rebuilding then I would like you to trade me now, that will not only help him but also the team to facilitate it sooner than later.

They would want to actually do it probably before July 1st if that is the case so teams that were looking at free agency would try to swing this deal and use that money to bring him in on a trade. It would be in everyone's best interest. He is not going to want to drag it out either if he really does want to leave.

09 May 2026 23:44:38
@leafsgm Your point in all of this I understand, but it might be better to start a discussion on it on the Leafs talk side of the Site. I am not trying to be a jerk or anything, but RLF took the time and posted his trade to start this post in regards to his potential trade to Washington.

The post has kind of got highjacked towards a whole different topic, and in fairness to RLF, I think it should be more about what he suggested in his original post.

10 May 2026 00:46:32
Suffering. Geez. lol
You were very clear that the trade was actually a #1 centre for a #1 centre and the Leafs would now need a #2 centre. Your words, not mine. Have you ever admitted when you are wrong?

10 May 2026 01:01:06
I love how you conveniently twisted my words by leaving out some of the exact words I wrote. What I wrote was: Well it is already a Prop for a #1 C for a #1 C becase Strome is Washington's #1 C and he would be here as well if Matthews is gone.

So now we still need the #2 C. The words "He would be here as well if (And yes I said "If") Matthews is gone". So I was clear on that fact. So why would I say I am wrong about those actual words.

10 May 2026 02:17:26
Exactly how did I twist your words? lol Your own quote is exactly what I said you said. So is Strome really a #1 centre or not? You called him that, not me.

10 May 2026 02:39:53
Yes, he is a #1 in Washington and if he came to Toronto and Matthews was not here he would be our #1. I did use those words that if Matthews is gone. What do you not understand about that? You did not use my full quote.

09 May 2026 13:58:08
Toronto —> Vancouver
1st overall pick
COL 2027 or 2028 1st rd pick
LA 2026 2nd rd pick
Morgan Reilly
Nick Robertson
Domi

Vancouver —> Toronto
Pick #3
MIN 2026 1st rd pick
Elias Pettersson @ 50% retained
Brock Boeser @ 50% retained
Filip Hronek @ 50% retained

Draft Veorhoff or Reid @3

Sign Tuch free agency (10.25$)
Sign Bobby mcmann or mason marchment free agency (5$)
Sign Ferraro free agency ($3.5M)

Knies($7.75M) Matthews($13.25M) Boeser $3.625M)
Mcmann($5M) Pettersson($5.8M) Nylander($11.5M)
Cowan ($873k) Tavares($4.38M) Tuch($10M)
Lorentz($1.35M) Groulx($812.5K) Joshua($3.25M)


Hronek($3.625M) Veorheoff/Reid($999K)
McCabe($4.51M) Tanev($4.5M)
OEL($3.5M) Carlo($4.1M)
Benoit($1.35M) Ferrarro($3.5M)


Woll ($3.66M)
Hildeby ($842K)
Stolarz ($3.75M)

Cap Hit: $101,926,500M

2027 salary cap projection ($114M)

09 May 2026 13:05:21
Pettersson?
😵‍💫
No thanks.

09 May 2026 13:22:15
That’s a better team than we have that’s for sure and a lot of cap and crap gone.

09 May 2026 13:37:51
Cap is 104

09 May 2026 14:11:55
So ... I am sitting hypotheically in the GM's chair in Edmonton when this comes in on my e-mail as a proposal. I look at it and go "Yeah I did the math and I don't see any problem having $13,000,000 of retained salary cap for 6 years, how could that ever come back to haunt us? Oh and they want us to take Reilly's $7,500,000 too so $20,500,000 for one defensemen and 3 guys not playing for us and then when our first round picks do their First RFA contracts, I will find a way to get the league to allow us to only play with a 15 man roster instead of 23 and then we can make the cap work.

Yeah, yeah the finacial numbers work. Oh wait..... I just remembered I failed remedial math 4 times. Hm I better get someone else to look at these numbers" lol.

09 May 2026 14:40:20
Those are some valid points Sufferingsince1967 - you could move Reilly to the Sharks for a third and retain the pick from LA while letting Vancouver keep Minny’s first making the trade as follows

TOR —> VAN
1st overall
COL 2027 1st
Robertson

VAN —> TOR
3rd overall
Pettersson @ 50% retained
Boeser @ 50% retained
Hronek @ 50% retained

This gives VAN pick #1 and a widely considered generational talent in McKenna, an extra 2nd this year, an extra 1st next year, an a proven 15 goal scorer with limited ice time who will be cheap and is very young.



Thoughts?

09 May 2026 14:44:37
Vancouver's office, not Edmonton lol.

09 May 2026 14:51:03
That salary retainment though is like a hangman's noose. All you have to do is look at Buffalo's retainment with one player, Jeff Skinner, and how it might handcuff them enough that they can't get Tuch, Benson and Krebs all done. They would still be tight anyway but that retainment means they have to let someone of value go and if not one of those 3 someone else.

I get what you are looking at, but I am not a big fan of ratainment. Obviously if the other team is retaining I am good with it lol. But when you do it it comes back on you especially with all three of those Vancouver players being under contract until the end of the 2031-2032 season.

09 May 2026 17:27:51
That’s a valid point - I think there’d be a willingness to retain on Pettersson and one of the other two (preferably Hronek) with pick #3 for a franchise player at #1 overall, a disgruntled prospect in Robertson and an additional 2nd or COL 1st in 2027. Pettersson gives us that #2C for the future, Hronek gives us a puck moving RHD, and we still pick third where we get one of Stenberg, Reid or Veorhoff

Subsequently ship Reilly to the Sharks for whatever they’re willing to play and we get Tuch in FA and we’ve revamped our forward core for the future while effectively rebuilding our blue line.

09 May 2026 20:15:33
Why not do what I suggested a week ago, Reilly and Robertson for Pettersson?

09 May 2026 21:26:54
Sorry not going into that arena debate again. Not changing my mind.

08 May 2026 15:28:51
Something that I’ve been thinking about is offer sheets. Leafs own their own 2nd next year so in theory the Leafs could offer sheet someone @2.3-4.6 million. Teams like Anaheim could be a target for this.

What’s your thoughts?

08 May 2026 15:21:33
Who are your targets you're thinking about?

08 May 2026 16:14:33
Anaheim has a lot of cap space, and don't have to pay their younger guys yet.

08 May 2026 17:18:01
I like the thought of offer sheets but you have
to target teams that are hard up against the cap. Remember 2 years ago Edmonton was up against it (as they are again). Bowman in all his wisdom decided in August he wanted to keep $10 million for possible cap space for the trade deadline. So he let St. Louis offer sheet Both Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg and got a 2nd and a 3rd round pick in total compensation. People say it ranks as one of the worst moves in Edmonton's history. Holloway is now close to a point a game player who is very physical as well.

Broberg is ranked in the 98 percentile for overall speed in the NHL and is imbedded in the top 10 fastest dmen but also crazy Goid defensively. Both are still only going to be 25 heading into this season. Funny the 2 exact kind of players Edmonton was trying to get the last 2 years. They already had. The lost them both on very affordable offer sheets. Broberg 4.58 Holloway 2.29. So yeah you can get a deal by lower base offer sheets.

08 May 2026 22:29:04
I think it all depends on what happens with Matthews, Nylander and probably Rielly. If any/all are moved and solid players/prospects are the return, there may be no need to give up a pick in order to get a young player.

08 May 2026 23:43:54
Utah is a bit tight on the cap and Beaudoin will probably crack the lineup so might be worth a 2nd round pick for Barrett Hayton. He would be a good third line pickup.

09 May 2026 04:30:12
We could take a run at Mavrik Bourque and offer right to the max that we could do with our 2nd round compensation. Dallas would have a extremely tough time to match if they sign Robertson. That brings us a very good young centreman.

08 May 2026 09:11:17
Hawks
1st overall 2026

Leafs
4th overall 2026
Hawks own 1st rd pick 2027 unprotected

09 May 2026 02:12:42
To Chicago: 2026 1st overall.

To Leafs: 2026 4th overall, Frondell

09 May 2026 12:30:03
You are diabolical waterbuffalo49. Frondell is going to be crazy good player. I don’t think Chicago would do that. I would love if they did though. If they did I would take it one step further. I would then trade Knies to San Jose for Misa and flip our position from 4th pick to 2nd.

My thinking is we pick Frondell’s national teammate Stenberg.

With Frondell gone Chicago would pick McKenna. It won’t happen but what a young line that would be. Frondell Misa Stenberg.


What I can see though is Chicago throwing a package of some nature at us not involving Frondell so they can draft Stenberg and uniting him with Frondell.

09 May 2026 12:48:01
@Golftown. I like your thinking but Chicago might have to sweeten it a bit more. I think that 1st pick in 2027 could be a late one. With Chicago’s good young defensemen with another year under their belts and then adding, say, Stenberg (if they got our pick), then that pitiful offence with he and Frondell and possibly Tuch (rumblings have them) ready to back the brinks truck to his door that team would easily make the jump into the playoffs.