At 27-21-9, the Toronto Maple Leafs are on the outside looking in at the NHL Playoff Picture in the Eastern Conference.
Craig Berube is on the hot seat, and unless things turn around quickly, there could be a fire sale happening in Toronto.
Playoff models currently give the Leafs roughly a 20-21% chance of making the postseason, and with only three picks in this year’s draft, restocking the cupboard is a genuine organizational priority.
With just two weeks to go before the trade deadline, Brad Treliving has a decision to make — and not a lot of time to make it.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman confirmed on January 31st that Toronto has begun the process of selling. But which players could be on the move and what type of haul can Toronto realistically expect in return?
Here are the three players most likely to be wearing a different jersey by the time the buzzer sounds.
Bobby McMann
McMann is undoubtedly the most notable trade candidate, as the 29-year-old forward is in the middle of a career year — posting 19 goals, 13 assists, 32 points, and 126 hits in 56 games.
The Edmonton Oilers have been strongly connected, with insider Chris Johnston of The Athletic predicting McMann lands there ahead of the deadline.
Toronto reportedly has an asking price of a first-round pick, though the return could shift toward multiple seconds and a prospect. His $1.35M cap hit — which drops to $675K with 50% retention — makes him an extremely attractive rental for any contending team.
Calle Jarnkrok
Calle Jarnkrok is a pending unrestricted free agent carrying a $2.1 million cap hit, and has fallen out of favour in Toronto — posting just six goals and one assist for seven points in 37 appearances while going in and out of the lineup.
At this point, a move before the deadline feels like a near-certainty. If Treliving wants to find the 34-year-old a new home, it’s very likely the Leafs would retain up to 50% of his remaining contract to help drive up trade value, though the return is expected to be modest.
Jarnkrok would be a depth addition for a contender, so the realistic return is likely around a seventh-round pick. As for potential landing spots, New Jersey, Seattle, and even Edmonton have been floated as possible destinations, with his veteran presence and defensive reliability making him a quiet but useful fit for a bottom-six role on a playoff team.
Scott Laughton
Scott Laughton is a complicated case.
The Leafs paid a steep price to get him — a 2027 first-round pick and Nikita Grebenkin sent to Philadelphia last March — so the optics of flipping him a year later would sting.
Through 39 games, the 31-year-old has eight goals, 11 points and a 56.5% faceoff rate, averaging just 13:45 of ice time — his lowest since 2017-18.
He carries a $3M cap hit (half retained by Philly, so $1.5M on Toronto’s books) and is a pending UFA. Pagnotta has reported that the Leafs and Laughton’s camp have not yet had meaningful extension discussions, though the organization is said to want him back.
After paying a hefty price to bring Laughton to Toronto, the Leafs can only hope to recoup a pick near the top of Day Two of the draft. If an extension doesn’t happen before the deadline, Treliving will have to decide whether to cash in or let him walk in July for nothing.
