The Toronto Maple Leafs have been linked to St. Louis Blues captain Brayden Schenn, but according to several NHL insiders, the Canadian team may not have enough to entice him away from St. Louis. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman and TSN’s Darren Dreger have explored the interest in recent days, and both think that the cost of acquiring him may be greater than Toronto can afford.
Friedman stated on Sportnet’s “Saturday Headlines” program that the Leafs lack the required assets to seriously pursue trade talks with St. Louis. “I won’t throw out names from Toronto’s standpoint because I don’t think they have the assets to approach that negotiation,” Friedman told reporters. “But I would look at a top young prospect, maybe another top prospect from the AHL, and a top draft pick.” Ahead of the #4Nations Face-Off, @FriedgeHNIC provides a Saturday Headlines report.
pic.twitter.com/SSuK9kO5cI — Sportsnet (@SportsNet) February 9, 2025. On Thursday’s broadcast of “Insider Trading,” Dreger said that the Blues were willing to sell Schenn, but that any move would require a “mammoth” return in exchange for their captain.
“Some believe that there’s potential of Brayden Schenn being traded by the St Louis Blues,” according to Dreger. “He’s their captain. “He has a full no-trade clause, so the process is complicated.
“Doug Armstrong, the general manager, is well-known for his aggressiveness, and the Blues are now underachieving.So, certainly, the major competitors in the market for a center are interested, including the Toronto Maple Leafs.” The Leafs face numerous difficulties in acquiring Schenn, who has 11 goals and 21 assists in 56 games this season. First, his $6.5 million cap cost is valid until 2028, which means Toronto would have to clear a significant salary to accommodate him on their roster.
The Maple Leafs currently have $2.2 million in cap space, with an additional $3.5 million coming from players on long-term injured reserve. Second, the Leafs do not have a first-round pick in 2025, which is a significant challenge considering St. Louis’ rumored demands.
“Toronto is seeing how high it can go at center,” Elliotte Friedman wrote on Thursday in his “32 Thoughts” column. “It will not be easy, and he may not be able to shoot as high as a 2C, but the Leafs are looking. First-round picks are important, and they don’t have one in June.” All of that being said, Sportsnet’s Justin Bourne believes the Leafs will include one of their top prospects in a deadline trade for a top-tier forward, perhaps opening the door to negotiations with the Blues for Schenn.