The Toronto Maple Leafs may make a move to bolster their roster very soon, since the NHL trade deadline is this Friday at 3 p.m. ET. Brad Treliving, the general manager, has stated that it might not be the “sexy headline-grabbing move” that supporters are hoping for. “Looking at your team is more important in the end,” Treliving stated. “In what areas do you believe you can make improvements? Are there players out there that have the ability to change things and make a difference? Additionally, sometimes making a tiny difference is enough.
Perhaps it’s not the most eye-catching headline-grabbing tactic, but what are some areas you might strengthen? And finally, what’s out there? How much does it cost, and how does it all come together? Toronto is interested in St. Louis Blues center Brayden Schenn, who is in his 16th NHL season and has 272 goals in his career, according to TSN’s Darren Dreger. The Maple Leafs may or may not have been among the “number of teams who reached out” to Blues general manager Doug Armstrong, but Schenn’s visit to Toronto was featured in ESPN’s most recent article, “Deals we want to see before Friday.”
According to ESPN, the Maple Leafs would transfer 20-year-old center Fraser Minten to Toronto along with a 2026 first-round pick. “Toronto needs to put in its best effort now. Because, well, if not now, when?” ESPN wrote. “In order to strengthen their current forward core and stack the middle before what they hope will be a lengthy playoff run, the Leafs need another top-nine center.
It would be difficult to let go of Minten, who the Leafs selected with the 38th overall pick in the 2022 draft, but you can’t get what you want, and adding Schenn would help Toronto fill a significant gap. Brayden Schenn, center for the St. Louis Blues (10). Images by James Guillory-Imagn Images by James Guillory-Imagn After mentioning Schenn’s “familiarity” with Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube, ESPN said that he “gives the Leafs a superior shutdown center option than anyone they have right now.” “But there’s familiarity between Schenn and Leafs coach Craig Berube from the latter’s time in St. Louis, which could ease the transition to a new team for Schenn and take away some of those post-trade pains,” said ESPN. “Schenn offers the Leafs a better shutdown center option than anyone they currently have and can handle big minutes.
The best Toronto has looked in that area for a long if Auston Matthews, John Tavares, and Schenn were lined up. And it should give you a great boost in confidence. The Blues, who may want to grow younger and aren’t in a position to contend for a Stanley Cup anytime soon, could also consider the move.
Schenn’s contract contains a complete no-trade provision, so he would need to give his consent before they could part ways. The former Stanley Cup champion has scored 12 goals and provided 26 assists in 62 games this season, for a total of 38 points.