That means a handful of skaters on expiring contracts should be up for rent to the highest bidder, of course. But it should also mean that Toronto\u2019s veterans with term and reasonable cap hits are in play.<\/p>\n
Even still, all signs point to a modest reset and reload as the club tries to regain its relevance in 2026-27.<\/p>\n
The knife might not cut as deep this week as fans wish.<\/p>\n
What management cannot afford, though, is to whiff on easy sells. The cupboards are too barren. Use cap space to retain salary and sweeten the returns.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s asset-recouping time in Toronto.<\/p>\n
Projected deadline day cap space:\u00a0$5.03 million<\/p>\n
Our understanding of the Leafs\u2019 scrambling plan is that they are treating 2025-26 as an off year, a bum-luck blip. They are the 2024-25 Bruins or the 2021-22 Golden Knights or 2016-17 Lightning \u2014 all of whom missed the post-season before returning to relevance.<\/p>\n
We\u2019re not convinced that\u2019s true. But if this roster is to successfully reset, it needs youth and speed and a more mobile defence corps.<\/p>\n
Because the trade deadline is mostly a rental market, GM Brad Treliving will have difficulty adding young players with term \u2014 but that shouldn\u2019t prevent him from trying to swing a hockey deal that injects energetic legs and offensive upside into his blue line or two-way skill into his forward group.<\/p>\n
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More information<\/a><\/p>\n The easier and more realistic path is to add to a draft pick and prospect pool that has been stripped bare after years of going for it.<\/p>\n Whether newly accrued picks and prospects are kept for a rebuild or flipped for NHL-ready talent in 2026-27 is a decision for another day. Either way, Toronto \u2014 without a first-rounder or second-rounder in 2026 or a first-rounder in 2027 \u2014 is desperate for those assets.<\/p>\n But if McMann, a pending UFA, wants anything near $5 million per season, it\u2019s time to move on. Twenty-goal scorers are too hard to come by on the rental market, and the Leafs need to recoup a nice return here. A first? Fantastic. Two seconds? Let\u2019s go.<\/p>\n Scott Laughton<\/a>:\u00a0Like McMann, Laughton has expressed\u00a0his desire to remain a Leaf<\/a>. And like McMann, Laughton can\u2019t block a trade and should fetch great interest from contenders. The centre-slash-winger can win a faceoff, kill a penalty and inject leadership. Every room or bench improves with Laughton on it. (Murmurs are also kicking up about third-line centre Nicolas Roy, who has an extra year of term on his contract. The Oilers are one team said to be interested.)<\/p>\n Troy Stecher<\/a>:\u00a0A wonderful waiver find, the competitive Stecher has done yeoman\u2019s work in Toronto, logging more than 20 minutes a night and filling in the role of right-shot minutes muncher admirably. But he\u2019s on an expiring deal. If Stecher doesn\u2019t wish to re-sign for a reasonable rate and short term, it\u2019s time to ship him off for a pick.<\/p>\n Oliver Ekman-Larsson<\/a>:\u00a0OK, now we\u2019re into the deeper cuts. Ekman-Larsson has term, carries a friendly cap hit ($3.5 million), and is amid one of his best showings yet \u2014 at age 34, no less. His trade value will never be higher. Yes, the Oilers may have found their guy in Connor Murphy, but that shouldn\u2019t deter Treliving from exploring other landing spots.<\/p>\n Brandon Carlo<\/a>:\u00a0Unfairly to the player \u2014 a meat-and-potatoes shot blocker and cycle stuffer \u2014 the right-shot Carlo carries the ill feelings around Treliving\u2019s worst move, last year\u2019s shedding of Fraser Minten, a 2026 first-round pick (top-five protected) and a fourth-rounder to rival Boston. But that doesn\u2019t mean Carlo wouldn\u2019t be a boost to playoff-bound blue line. And in a market thin on defence rentals, Treliving stress the value of Carlo\u2019s term and low cap hit.<\/p>\n Picks and prospects:\u00a0Let\u2019s not get picky here. High time to stock the cupboards, and it falls on management to secure the highest draft picks and most talented young players available this week. Sell high.<\/p>\n