Leafs Trade Rumors

12 Mar 2026 16:10:42
Tor: Rielly, Maccelli, 2027 2nd

Van: Pettersson

If Vancouver bites with might be decent for both teams. Van gets a younger player and a 2nd, plus a skilled lhd. While Toronto address their #2C.

Tor: Benoit

Ana: 4th

Benoit can be replaced cheaply, or expensively if you target Logan Stanley, so moving him for anything Isnt a loss.

Sign Laine 3yr x4m
R. Andersson 7x8.5m

Most people don't like Laine but, if you look at the raw info, past his injury history, he's a high skilled talent with an amazing shot. He would pair well in a 3rd line with Joshua and JT.

Cowen Matthews Nylander
Knies Pettersson XXXXX
Joshua JT Laine
Lorentz Domi XXXXX

We still have some depth prospects and cap space after the moves.

We could find someone to fill the specific spots marked in X's, now as for defense

OEL Andersson
McCabe Tanev
Stanley Carlo

We can switch up OEL and McCabe for balancince. It everyone plays their natural side. We have the toughness some skill, and a potnetion of Stanley having another strong season like he is now.

And behind that we still have

Stolarz, Woll, and Hildeby. One will have to be moved. I'd predict Woll is the right peice, giving Hildeby 4 years to develop at the NHL level behind stolarz. Philly might be interested

Tor: Woll, Robertson

Phi: 2027 1st (Tor).

12 Mar 2026 17:43:42
I didn't look at cap, but looks like to much with a quick look. I could be wrong though. I don't hate Petterson the way some do, but definitely way over paid. Laine, I think you offered to much. He struggles to get playing time in Montreal.

I would consider him on a show me deal though. As good as Andersson is, I think we will all be severely disappointed giving him that kind of money. He is very good, but at that price I think our fans run him out of town pretty quick.

12 Mar 2026 18:06:36
The thing with Laine is he's averaging only 14m a night because of his injuries. He's an offensive right winger to boost the 3rd line which will compliment JT and Joshua, who can help cover his defensive lapses.

As for the money and term with Laine, the unfortunate part is he will need at least 4m-5m due to the cap increasing.

And at 4-5m for a 7 time 20 goal scorer who will only be turning 28 in April. His career possession numbers are directly comparable to Phil Kessel. And with enough cap space, maybe we can land roslovoc to pay with Petterson.

12 Mar 2026 19:53:47
I don’t mind the first trade, the rest are crap, but Vancouver would have to retain like 3 million for that deal to work for me.

12 Mar 2026 21:23:05
Laine is a tough one for me!

He’s been on three teams already which is often a tell-tale sign that there’s a problem.

Injuries have been a problem, addiction was a problem (has he conquered is perhaps unknown) and he has shown unhappiness before.

Those are the minuses I guess. The positives are how impactful he can be when he’s healthy (both physically and mentally), motivated and in shape. He can change a game on his own.

I’d have a chat with his agent when it’s allowed to get the down-low. If it’s positive I might offer 1-year @ $4m “show me” contract. If it works the GM is a hero, if not c’est la vie.

12 Mar 2026 21:57:22
@randy I'm really banking on Laine being that impactful player who would compliment JT's offense and gritty side. I was truly hoping the Leafs would have traded for him (still could before the season ends once he's ready to come off LTIR) as the sample run.

We have the cap space to take on the cap hit and get a not terrible asset for helping Montreal cap situation.

13 Mar 2026 14:50:22
Hrenkin, I feel bad for you. You’re a soccer player trying to make hockey trades. Laine and Petterson. 🤣 While we’re at it why don’t we get Huberdeau too. Joker.

12 Mar 2026 01:17:55
Toronto:

Jake O'Brien Centre
Jagger Firkus LW and can play RW
Tyson Jugnauth Defense
1st in 2027 Seattle's lowest one
2nd in 2027 Seattle's lowest one

Seattle:
Matthews and Reilly

This trade allows us to stock the cupboards in a large way with prospects and picks. Also give us $20 Million and Change and a chance to add either through Free agency or by utilizing other Leaf Roster players and Picks to take on a higher end player with larger salary, with the freed up cash from those Contracts.

It allows Seattle to fill 2 of the 3 Roster Spots they need to fill without losing Roster players in the trade and still leaves them $13 million to fill that last roster spot.

12 Mar 2026 13:52:54
The issue with moving either Matthews or Nylander is that they are the only two real goal scorers the Leafs have (Knies might be 30-35 guy), so if we don't get goal scorers back, the Leafs better find some in free agency or in the trade.
I like O'Brien, but there are no real scorers here coming to the Leafs. When considering there are two guys about to turn 22 (Firkus, Jugnauth) and never played a game in the NHL, by your own evaluations, that makes them less valuable than a Nic Robertson.

Doesn't seem like much of a return when the picks are the lowest they have as well.
Is the idea the Leafs are kind of paying Seattle to take Rielly and his full contract? For the picks, is it lowest (worst one)? Or highest (best one)?

12 Mar 2026 22:32:09
Thing is every one of those players keeps progressing at every level they play year by year. Highest (best) one. My trade suggestion in this post is to get rid of Matthews and Reilly, keeping Nylander and keeping Robertson. Stocking the cupboards with good prospects, draft picks and salary.

Biggest things I saw in these prospects wasn't just their regular season stats, but how they step up in the playoffs. I might be wrong with O'Brien but this year's OHL playoffs will be his proving ground. I just see a good step up with Jugnauth and Firkus in their past in the playoffs and a progressive adaptation to high levels as they go forward. My past evaluations on other players that have not played in the NHL are players whose stats are meager in comparison. How are we paying Seattle to take Reilly's contract? If we were to break it down, which when it is a package deal we shouldn't need to do, I would say Matthews for the 1st, Jake O'Brien and Jugnauth, and O'Reilly for the 2nd and Firkus.



This is not a retool. This is a rebuild-start trade. If you want old used-to-be goal scorers in return then yeah go for free agency and waste money. Stock up on young potential that can score at each level as they progress. We have to suck it up for that growth. Yes I said it was worth keeping Robertson ahead of another trade prospect only because that prospect has not shown the ability to keep that productivity. It's not a tried and true science and I might be wrong but I would rather have a young scoring team than one that doesn't. We suck no matter what this year at scoring.

No problem with the criticism. Just given that Seattle is one of the few teams that can swing a deal like this. Give some alternatives

13 Mar 2026 12:28:44
It wasn't criticism, it was questions.
You said lowest of the 1st and 2nd pick, which are the worst ones. I questioned if that is what you meant. If so, the return is less than what you actually meant. If you value two prospects less than Robertson, again, not much value there coming back.
I questioned how you value the two prospects based on some of your previous comments on prospect evaluation. You've explained. You didn't just suggest keeping Robertson over a previous prospect, you said it made you grin and explained they weren't even close to about even value wise.
So, you value Jugnauth and Firkus as more than Robertson then? Trying to gauge how good you think these prospects are.


Otherwise the deal is;
Matthews for the 1st, Jake O'Brien and Jugnauth(less value than Robertson), and O'Reilly for the 2nd and Firkus(less value than Robertson). If you add that originally your post had the two picks were the worst they had, doesn't like like much for Matthews unless Leafs are kind of paying Seattle to take Rielly. Hence the questions.
You said keep Robertson after this deal. Are you not concerned about the lack of size in general as two of the prospects you are bringing in lack size and keeping Robertson (and Cowan I assume).

11 Mar 2026 21:55:06
To recap trade and UFA proposals and share what might be my opening day lineup:

L1: M. Mantha #34 A. Holtz
L2: #23 #91 #63
L3: M. Marchment F. Bystedt N. Gaucher
L4: AJ Greer P. Kurashev #18

Extra forwards and AHL prospects: Cowan, Quillan, Haymes, Groulx and Valis plus the new adds John Mustard, Kasper Halttunen, Kai Uchacz, Felix Nilsson and Ryder Ritchie

D1: P. Mintyakov & Raddysh
D2: OEL & Carlo
D3: Stanley & Connor Murphy

Extra D include Benoit, Myers, JB Docker, Thrun, Villeneuve, Chadwick, Danford, B. Smith and Tarin Smith and Webber

G1: J. Woll
G2: D. Hildeby

Stolarz was part of Predator trade with Joshua and Niemela rights to get Felix Nilsson.

Easier exercise on paper than real life of course but it’s a team that I’d like to see.

New adds were selected based on youth, skill, skating speed & agility, physicality, IQ and compete. Not saying that every add has all these but many.

Might be a few deals I modify going forward but ready to share.

11 Mar 2026 09:44:52
Well let’s mix up these teams a bit. Everyone has Willy going to ANH and Matthews to SJ. What if it was the other way around?

To ANH: Matthews, Reilly

To Tor: Sennecke, McTavish, Mintuykov


2nd:
To SJ: Nylander, Domi

To Tor: Misa, Ferraro (resigned 6M X 3)

11 Mar 2026 13:41:30
Clarky, absolute yes to both! If we could actually get that for AM and Nylander make it happen whomever and let’s go! Leafs with the cap space could still add some depth and we’d most likely make the playoffs next year.

Ntm drafting Keaton Verhoeff this year as well! This team would be ridiculous good if not right away but in a couple years look tf out!

11 Mar 2026 14:16:23
Like your enthusiasm, Henry77.

11 Mar 2026 14:27:24
I'd have to think Nylander gets more than an unproven first rounder and a bottom pair Dman alone.

11 Mar 2026 14:34:36
First trade, great for the Leafs.
2nd trade, I would think Nylander can get more than that. I assume you're taking off value for Domi, but Ferraro is a UFA, so I don't think the sign and trade carries a lot of value either as Leafs can just wait to offer that if he is willing to take it.

11 Mar 2026 15:15:18
Here’s why I shoot down this Anaheim trade. Why would the Ducks move cost-controlled young guys currently outplaying Matthews for a quick go-for-it move? Matthews is 28 with only two more years.

The Ducks with their young core could create a dynasty. It’s a great trade for Toronto, but I just don’t see the Ducks selling Senneke after they took so much crap for picking him 3rd overall.

11 Mar 2026 17:50:04
If you could get that haul in the first trade then yes. But realism always has to poke its nasty head up lol. To be honest, performance-wise of Matthews and Reilly of late and between them carrying $20.75 million of salary. That trade stands a lot better chance of flying with the year Nylander is having and with him and Domi bringing $5.5 less salary with them.



That second trade.... I agree with RLF, Nylander gets you way more than that just on his own. Right now he is still producing at 100 point season if he had not been hurt. Matthews value keeps dropping the longer that goal drought continues. 1 in his last 16 is not a real marketable player at the moment.

11 Mar 2026 18:20:50
In fact..... If the Ducks had a momeny of Insanity and did that first trade. Don't do the second trade. Put McTavish in the Middle and Sennecke on the left (He can play both sides) and Willy on the right. Now there is a line I could watch all season.

11 Mar 2026 23:45:09
Wow, this one got a lot of good feedback. Maybe Willy gets more, but I’m also paying to take Domi. I love that Sennecke kid. Plays like Knies did his first year. Seems to never run out of energy. Hits, scores and battles. I don’t think Anh would move him, but if they do, Matthews might be the one to change their mind.

12 Mar 2026 13:14:56
I’ve said it before and now again…. I would trade Matthews straight up for Sennecke. Especially how Matthews has played the past two seasons. Get the value while we can for him. I mean, maybe try for Solberg too as that’d be a nice 1 2 him and Verheoff ;)

10 Mar 2026 21:59:18
Let’s look at our forward, player by player and do first draft of off-season plans.

Perhaps the very first questions deal with Matthews and Nylander. Do we keep both or just one?

I don’t care much whether we call it a retool or rebuild but if we trade both then the debate is clearly settled.

I am choosing to keep Matthews because he’s the more rounded player. So L1C.

We trade Nylander to the Ducks for Mintyukov, Gaucher and Tarim Smith.

Keep Knies for now. L1LW or L2LW.

Keep Tavares as L2C. I think he deserves another year here give his FO ability and offence.

Trade Domi to the Wild for 19yo RW Ryder Ritchie who was drafted #45 in 2024, is 6.2 190.

Resigning Maccelli at a small raise to $4m x 2 yrs. If he wants more I trade his RFA rights. He has shown his skill of late so I think he adds to the team’s ability to score.

I would try and trade Joshua (failing that he would be the L4C) along with Rifai and Niemela’s RFA rights to the Predators for 20yo C Felix Nilsson #43 in 2023 who is 6’ 192 and plays the game right in all three zones.

Obviously Jarnkrok leaves, for me at least.

Robertson is trade due to redundancy with Cowan and Maccelli. Have a new proposal to send him to Vegas for Alexander Holtz and Kai Uchacz. Both these players have had problems so these are risky for sure. But with risk come great upsides.

Holtz is a 24yo RW 6’ 198 and a #7 pickin 2021. A speedster who can score with opportunity and the right linemates. Uchacz is a 22yo C who is 6.1 209; he was undrafted not because of ability but racial comments made to a teammate. He is took time away from hockey and racial education. I’d be willing to trade for him IF the interview went well.

Lorentz I’m keeping as L4RW.

Depending on training camp Cowan may start at L3 RW or get plenty of ice in critical moments in AHL.

Quillan is resigned along with Haymes and Groulx and at camp.
Each gets a good look.

Keep Valis and invite to camp as well. Holinka gets an invite as well.

I try to sign the following UFAs. Again I’m looking for players that have skill but on reasonable contracts thereby yielding multiple signings and forward depth.

I want to sign Anthony Mantha ($4m x 3), Mason Marchment ($5m x 3), AJ Greer ($1.3m x 2) and Phillipp Kurashev ($1.2m x 2).

That’s it for today.

11 Mar 2026 04:28:08
You lost my vote (👍🏼) when you resigned Maccelli.
He has scored some points but is completely a non impact player who you don’t know is on the ice unless he gets a point.

I don’t think any team in the league is taking Domi and sending back an asset.



Trade Matthews and Nylander for the most young assets we can get.

Signing UFAs over 30 years old for 3 year terms is not how to rebuild a team.

11 Mar 2026 11:38:22
Thanks for the response, WB.

I was certainly not a fan of Maccelli early on but his recent play has IMO shown his value.

At $4m he would be a decent value; I think he can be close to a 50 point puck carrier and playmaker for us.

I’m open however to hearing a proposal. Where would you trade him and for what?

You’re a bit harsh on Domi methinks; I’m pretty certain some team could use him; he’ll reach 40pts, is a good skater with toughness.



Lol, retool! Three years is enough time for our newly traded-in players plus several kids in the pipeline (Holinka, Danford, Chadwick, Valis and a couple of others) to make the jump.

But thanks for input; the Matthews/Nylaner situation will be much talked about for awhile yet.