This season hasn’t been smooth for the Maple Leafs so far. They have not looked like the strong regular-season team they used to be. The team has dealt with lineup disruptions and mixed results, raising questions about its direction.
As a result, trade discussions are gaining more attention.
Maple Leafs Trade Assets Emerge in Pivotal Deadline Window for Brad Treliving
Toronto has struggled to stay consistent in the 2025–26 season, sitting in the middle of the Atlantic Division despite flashes of strong play. Wins like the home game against the Mammoth and the shutout over the Canucks showed what the team can look like when things click, but recent losses to the Avalanche and Golden Knights highlighted ongoing defensive issues and uneven scoring.
William Nylander is leading the team with 48 points, but is injured, while captain Auston Matthews is the team’s top goal scorer. But despite that, maintaining the overall balance between offense and defense has been difficult.
In January, the Maple Leafs made several roster moves tied to injuries and depth concerns, signaling a team still searching for stability. Nylander has moved on and off injured reserve, and Jacob Quillan has been transacted multiple times from the AHL to support forward depth.
With limited cap space and few draft picks, trade rumors have picked up around general manager Brad Treliving’s options. The Leafs seem stuck in the middle, and the management will be hard-pressed to do something.
On Chris Johnston’s show, while answering a hypothetical question, Johnston discussed how Toronto might approach a potential retool, starting with players on expiring contracts. “You start with the players on expiring contracts, so that’s Bobby McMann and Scott Laughton are two,” he said, while noting the Leafs still want to keep both if contracts can be worked out.
Johnston also pointed to possible trade value on the blue line, highlighting Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s strong play this season and his upcoming Olympic appearance for Sweden. “He’s played incredibly well. He’s going to the Olympics next month for Sweden,” Johnston said, adding that Toronto could explore options if the return makes sense.
Then Johnston mentioned Brandon Carlo and Simon Benoit as names that could draw interest, along with forwards outside the team’s core.
“I’m sitting here thinking, if you can, you know, Nick Robertson, if you can flip him for something,” Johnstron said. “Forward should be the easiest spot, in my view, to replenish your roster, because the Leafs still do have Auston Matthews, John Tavares, William Nylander, and Matthew Knies under contract for the foreseeable future.”
At the center of the discussion is the need for direction. Johnston described the season as confusing and said, “Everybody sees they’re not good enough, but nobody’s sort of doing anything about it.” He also pointed out that while the Leafs have made the playoffs for nine straight years, they are no longer viewed as a serious Stanley Cup threat, calling that reality “just a fact.”
At the same time, Johnston warned that major trades send a message to the locker room, the fan base, and the media, saying those moves are not made lightly because they can feel like “waving the white flag.”
READ MORE: NHL World Reacts as Maple Leafs’ William Nylander Gets Slapped With $5,000 Fine
For Treliving, the challenge is finding value in the trade market without signaling a full rebuild, especially with core players under contract. Johnston suggested that adding draft picks could help give Toronto more flexibility in future deals, even if the team does not plan to use those picks directly.
As the season continues, how the Maple Leafs handle their trade assets could shape both their short-term results and long-term direction.
