Toronto Maple Leafs Could Turn to Former Forward as Trade Options Are Limited
The Toronto Maple Leafs could be forced to return to a former player as the team may lack the assets for a star in a possible trade.
As the Toronto Maple Leafs head to the NHL's trade deadline, two concerns persist for the Leafs that restrict their options in the market.
The first is a lack of prospect depth. The Leafs will likely not be moving top prospect Easton Cowan, and are reluctant to move Fraser Minten and Nikita Grebenkin.
The Leafs also lack a first-round pick in this year's draft, meaning if they were to give up a first, it'd be in either 2026 or 2027.
The second concern for Toronto is a lack of available cap space. The Leafs have just currently $441K in available room, making any deal something that will involve both retention and a large salary headed out.
The lack of both immediate draft capital and prospects, and the lack of cap room, is a question mark that may fail to land Toronto a big fish, but could bring back a former Leaf to Toronto as a bargain option.
Former Leafs Forward Could Be Option For Second Stint
The Toronto Maple Leafs are being linked to Nashville Predators Center Ryan O'Reilly.
O'Reilly, who played for the Leafs in 2023 after a trade for St. Louis, has been linked as a potential player who may leave Nashville, a team that has consistently struggled this season.
O'Reilly had 11 points in 13 games for Toronto before signing with Nashville in the offseason.
Currently, O'Reilly is making $4.5M until 2027, something that will likely still cost retention.
Leafs analyst James Mirtle of 'The Athletic' said on the JD Bunkis podcast that Ryan O'Reilly seems like a realistic name.
I just don't think the first-round pick in 2026 is enough to move the needle in what you've described as a seller's market. - JD Bunkis
Mirtle responded, describing how O'Reilly is a fit for the Leafs.
I think a lot of the talk is just talk because I don't think there is anything concrete for them that they're excited about.
Ryan O'Reilly keeps on coming up because of the history and that's a sexy name that's out there.
But my prediction is...it's not going to be a great trade deadline for the Toronto Maple Leafs. - James Mirtle
If Mirtle is correct, it means likely a quiet deadline for the Leafs, who are already likely to miss on a top Center but have already multiple holes outside of their roster that make their ability to get a quality addition an uncertainty.
