March 2, 2025 | 9:58pm ET
TheFourthPeriod.com

MAPLE LEAFS EXPLORING VARIETY OF OPTIONS

Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving

The Toronto Maple Leafs want to add up front by Friday’s 3pm ET trade deadline, that is far from a secret. Who they end up adding, however, remains a mystery.

Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving has been scouring the market for an upgrade at the forward position. He would prefer to acquire a second-line forward, ideally a centre, but he has also been weighing his options in the bottom-six.

The Leafs have spoken with the St. Louis Blues about Brayden Schenn and the Philadelphia Flyers about Scott Laughton, among others.

During Sunday’s edition of “Insider Trading” on TSN, Darren Dreger reported Schenn is not expected to be dealt unless the Blues acquire a premium package for him as St. Louis has climbed its way back into the wildcard race in the Western Conference.

“(Blues GM) Doug Armstrong and the Blues have said all along 'we don’t have trade their captain and he’s under contract there.' Maybe they’ll revisit in the off-season,” Dreger said. “He is not going to soften on the ask of what it will take to consider trading Brayden Schenn. Of course, there’s still time left for that call to be made, but it seems like they’re right in the thick of things.

“Maybe we need to spend more attention on Scott Laughton of the Philadelphia Flyers – a cheaper ask from Philadelphia’s standpoint, but still expensive if you’re Brad Treliving or another interested GM.”

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The Flyers are believed to have asked for a first-round draft pick as part of a deal for Laughton, or young forward Fraser Minten.

The Blues are also believed to be interested in Minten and Leafs prospect Easton Cowan.

With Calle Jarnkrok set to return to the lineup and make his season debut in the very near future, the Maple Leafs will have less than $1 million in current cap space. Any significant addition the team makes will likely result in at least one player coming off the roster in some fashion.