February 5, 2025 | 4:58pm ET
TheFourthPeriod.com

MAPLE LEAFS CONTINUE TO EXPLORE CENTRE OPTIONS

Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving

The Toronto Maple Leafs are still in the market for an upgrade at the centre position and would like to bolster their lineup at either the second line centre spot or on the third line.

During Wednesday’s edition of “The Latest” on TFP presented by CCM Hockey, Kate Petterson and David Pagnotta discussed what Toronto is fishing for and the belief is the team’s focus is adding to their forward corps.

“(Leafs GM) Brad Treliving has been out there, he has been searching,” Pagnotta said. “Him and the staff have been looking around to see what could be available and what is (currently) available. And then they’re also lurking. They’re kind of in the weeds a little bit trying to see if an opportunity pops up that they can pounce on, they’d like to take it.

“It’s no secret, they want to upgrade their center position. If it’s 2C, they move John Tavares to the left. There’s also talk if things really don’t work out, if they could find a left wing scorer, they could add and keep 91 at the dot.”

The Maple Leafs have been linked to such forwards are Brock Nelson of the New York Islanders, Scott Laughton of the Philadelphia Flyers, whom they’ve had interest in going back two seasons, and Yanni Gourde of the Seattle Kraken, who is currently injured.

According to ESPN’s Kevin Weekes, the Maple Leafs are among the teams also interested in Buffalo Sabres centre Dylan Cozens, but such a move would have significant salary camp implications.

“Toronto is looking they are trying to see where they can make an addition,” Pagnotta added. “Scott Laughton still kind of part of the conversation from a third line role, but the asking price is still high. I don’t know if Toronto wants to give up any of their top prospects in order to make that happen so we’ll see kind of where that goes, but Toronto’s looking and they want to make something happen before the deadline.”