Maple Leafs Made Strong Push for 6'7", 250-Pound Top-Four Defenseman per Elliotte Friedman
The Toronto Maple Leafs made multiple additions to their team during the 2025 Deadline, but they were reportedly also interested in bringing in another player.
The 2025 Trade Deadline is officially in the books, and the Toronto Maple Leafs have brought aboard both Scott Laughton and Brandon Carlo in trades with the Philadelphia Flyers and divisional foe Boston Bruins.
Both players are expected to have a major impact on the Leafs in their quest to advance past the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for just the 2nd time since 2004.
But how close were they to acquiring another player in addition to Laughton and Carlo?
Per Elliotte Friedman, the Leafs also had interest in Jamie Oleksiak, a Toronto native who plays for the Seattle Kraken.
Jamie Oleksiak Unavailable For Maple Leafs; Shift Gears To Better Option
Meanwhile, Friedman also admitted that he didn't anticipate the Leafs being able to acquire a player like Carlo from a divisional foe, given the uncertainty that always surrounds the Trade Deadline.
Oleksiak, who is originally from Toronto and has been in Seattle since their inception in 2021, has 13 points (4G, 9A) for a struggling Kraken team that will not qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He has over 600 games of NHL experience with 142 points (40G, 102A).
He's also under contract for another year with an AAV (average annual value) of $4.6 million.
Oleksiak, who is the brother of Canadian Olympian Penny Oleksiak, would have certainly brought a huge presence to the Maple Leafs; a role filled now by Carlo and would more than likely have been Morgan Rielly's partner on the blue line.
With Toronto give up Fraser Minten for Carlo and 15% salary retention, the package for Oleksiak would have looked very similar although they feel like the veteran is a solid addition to keep instead of sell off.
But adding a player like Carlo for fairly cheap is a coup for Brad Treliving and if fans are upset about losing Minten; winning seems to be the only solution.
With or without Oleksiak, it's time for the Maple Leafs to step up. Though adding the towering defender wouldn't have hurt either.
