The Toronto Maple Leafs have already made their first major move under new leadership, with John Chayka and franchise legend Mats Sundin deciding to part ways with head coach Craig Berube.
Now, the focus turns toward reshaping the roster, and one NHL insider believes Toronto could make a major push for a Team USA gold medalist.
Toronto Maple Leafs Linked to Team USA Veteran
The player at the center of the speculation is Vincent Trocheck, who has emerged as one of the more intriguing names on the trade market after the New York Rangers missed the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs and shifted toward a rebuild.
The veteran center still has three years remaining on his seven-year, $39.375 million contract, though he does hold a modified no-trade clause that allows him to submit a 12-team no-trade list.
Fresh off helping Team USA capture gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, Trocheck recorded 53 points, including 16 goals and 37 assists, in 67 games this NHL season.
Reports also surfaced earlier this year that the Rangers and Minnesota Wild came extremely close to completing a blockbuster trade involving Trocheck before talks ultimately fell apart.
Now, NHL insider Darren Dreger has connected the Maple Leafs to the veteran forward. “This wouldn’t be a surprise, but we know that New York’s trying to get off the contract of Trocheck, right? Toronto is among the teams that have some interest for sure,” Dreger reported.
Dreger also added that Trocheck’s style of play and experience could fit well in Toronto’s lineup, potentially allowing him to slot in as the second-line center while John Tavares shifts into a different role. “I love his game when he’s healthy,” he said.
He further pointed to Trocheck’s connection with Team USA captain Auston Matthews as a possible factor that could help attract the veteran center to Toronto.
Trocheck himself previously acknowledged that he had come to terms with the possibility of being traded. “If I get traded, I’m fine. I’m not worried about myself. I’m more worried about my family. That’s the only thing that I have to worry about,” Trocheck said.
Before the trade deadline, he indicated a preference for remaining on the East Coast rather than moving to a Western Conference team, something that could work in Toronto’s favor.
Meanwhile, the Leafs are still searching for a new head coach after firing Berube, who posted an 84-62-18 record in two seasons and is expected to draw interest elsewhere around the NHL.
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For now, it remains to be seen whether Toronto will seriously pursue Trocheck this offseason, but the speculation surrounding the veteran center is continuing to grow, and he’s unlikely to be on the Rangers roster come next season.
