The latest on trade rumours linked to the Maple Leafs: TLN Rumour Recap

This week we have a special edition of TLN Rumour Recap as instead of covering the buzz around the league, it’s time to zone in on just what’s going on in Leafs land.

The trade deadline is 3 pm EST on Friday and there’s been no shortage of rumours surrounding what Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving is cooking. Treliving’s not been one for many in-season transactions, so it will be curious to see what he pulls off in his first deadline in Toronto.

Here’s the very latest chatter on the Maple Leafs trade market:

Zach Bogosian No Longer an Option

Earlier this week, Chris Johnston was linking Zach Bogosian to the Maple Leafs, as he’s a right-handed defenceman with some jam, who would have checked some boxes for Toronto:

They’re looking at a bunch of guys. Brad Treliving is known as a first-class tire kicker. Someone who really works the phones a lot and understands what the market is from every angle. I’ve heard the Leafs connected to Zach Bogosian, who they’ve obviously had before.

Tuesday evening, the Minnesota Wild announced Bogosian signed a two-year contract extension at $1.25 million per season. Treliving will have to look elsewhere if he wants to find a righty with some edge.

A Rare Canadiens/Leafs Trade Possible?

It’s not often these two rivals do business together but if Kent Hughes and Treliving end up signing off on the dotted line, it’s likely David Savard heading to the Maple Leafs. It will take a significant package for Hughes to budge as Savard has one more season left on his deal at $3.5 million.

Savard doesn’t hold any trade protection but he’s beloved by his teammates and the organization so if Treliving wants to add him to the Maple Leafs’ top four, it’s likely going to take a three-piece trade combo that may have to include a top prospect or Nick Robertson. Tread lightly Brad, losing a prospect with high upside to a divisional rival like the Habs, just to have them haunt them in their division for the next decade would be less than ideal.

For what it’s worth, the Maple Leafs have been scouting the Canadiens a bunch lately and could be willing to make an offer on Savard before Friday’s deadline. Recently, we showcased how much Savard was similar to Justin Holl which may swing your interest in the Canadiens defenceman joining the Leafs.

Maple Leafs Home-Run Swings Include Parayko or Larsson

Elliotte Friedman felt earlier on this season that the Leafs’ #1 trade target should be Colton Parayko from the St Louis Blues. The towering right-handed defenceman has a huge contract, carrying a $6.5 million AAV through the 2029-30 season.

So far there’s been very little talk about Parayko being asked to waive his no-trade protection so at this point, it’s going to take a miracle to pull off a blockbuster with the Blues. Parayko recorded 21 points in 62 games this season and would come with the type of Stanley Cup Playoff experience the Maple Leafs could use more of in their dressing room.

The Seattle Kraken have two defencemen in Adam Larsson and Will Borgen who check a ton of boxes for the Maple Leafs, not only just because they’re both right-handed, but considering their physical playing styles and ability to kill penalties. Larsson is a top-pair option who would be an ideal partner for Morgan Rielly, meanwhile, Borgen is four years younger and cheaper at $2.7 million AAV compared to Larsson’s $4 million cap hit. Both are signed through next season which is interesting because Treliving’s willing to move his first-round pick for a player with term left on their deal.

Friedman mentioned the Maple Leafs blue line targets in his latest 32 thoughts:

Name a defenceman, they’ve looked at him: the Seattle guys, Dumba (unlikely), Edmundson, Ferraro, Hanifin, Jensen, Savard, Seeler, Tanev, Walker, Zadorov, etc., etc. They’d like a more permanent, long-term solution, but that’s a big price if even available.

Jensen is a bit of a wild card from the Washington Capitals as he’s late to the party, just recently being linked to the Maple Leafs. Jensen has two seasons left on his contract at $4.05 million AAV and the 31-year-old has posted just eight assists in 58 games. Considering the Leafs just picked up Lyubushkin, who provides zero offence, do they really need another shut-down right-handed defenceman?

Speaking of righties, the Maple Leafs have been keeping tabs on the Flyers, according to Pierre LeBrun of TSN and Sean Walker continues to be a player of interest. The right-handed Walker went from being a healthy scratch in LA to being traded to the Flyers, to now breaking out in a major way, playing major minutes. Walker is from the area and in his first season in Philly, has posted 22 points in 63 games. He plays major minutes on the penalty kill and is on pace to finish the season with more than 100 hits and 100 blocks. LeBrun had this to say on the Walker market:

Finally on Tuesday I’m told action started to pick up with teams circling back and getting more serious on Walker. That doesn’t mean he will for sure get dealt as the Philadelphia Flyers aren’t moving him for what they deem to be a lackluster return. But I think it’s more likely than not he does get moved. It’s been quiet for a few days between the Flyers and Walker’s camp on extension talks. I think the Flyers will circle back one last time there. So all the balls are up in the air, but the word on Tuesday is that calls with teams were gaining traction. The Flyers still want a first-round pick. Can they get it? The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Oilers have kept tabs with Philly, including over the last few days.

Treliving Looking at Depth Forwards

While you shouldn’t expect to see the Maple Leafs in on the Jake Guentzel trade saga, as it sounds like the Vancouver Canucks are the favourite there, so expect to see Treliving add a depth forward before Friday’s deadline. Likely a versatile forward who can play both centre and wing.

Friedman chimed in on the topic recently:

They have also looked at a depth forward/centre. When Nick Robertson was sent down, he was told it was purely for roster reasons and he’d be back, a rationale he accepted in the short term. I see a team with holes, but, as Bill Parcells always says, “You are what your record says you are,” and this year’s Maple Leafs have done a great job, considering the craziness on defence and in goal.

The depth-winger market includes Anthony Duclair and Alexander Barabanov from the San Jose Sharks. Both pending free agents are being shopped hard by GM Mike Grier. Scott Laughton out of Philadelphia is going to cost a fortune and while he’s an upgrade over David Kampf, the acquisition price is likely out of Treliving’s wheelhouse.

Minnesota Wild forward Brandon Duhaime is an interesting target. He’s produced effective 5v5 in limited ice time with the Wild and so far this season, has recorded eight points in 62 games. Duhaime plays with an edge and an intense work ethic, he kills penalties and has landed an impressive 155 hits this season. He’s not versatile enough to play centre, but with Pontus Holmberg an option to slide in the middle, it may not be as much of a priority as some think. Steven Ellis recently highlighted Duhaime as an under-the-radar type who could push a team over the hump:

I’m going with Brandon Duhaime. Yeah, I know, not a big name. But the teams that acquire the bigger names typically don’t end up winning the Stanley Cup, anyways. It’s the depth guys that tend to make the biggest impact. With Duhaime, a contending team is getting someone you don’t need to use every game, but as your lineup gets more tired and worn out, he’ll go out and bring the energy and the speed you need. He can shoot the puck for sure, but offense isn’t his game – and he won’t cost much, either.

The 26-year-old is a pending free agent making just $1.1 million against the cap. As of Wednesday, the Maple Leafs were projected by CapFriendly to have just $144,116 in deadline cap space and it’s going to take some serious creativity to pull off any moves.

Maple Leafs Once Had Eyes for Matt Dumba

The Matt Dumba hype train went through Toronto this season thanks to Friedman mentioning on Leafs Morning Take that the Leafs preferred Dumba over John Klingberg last summer. Dumba wanted to wait out the market out a little longer, meanwhile, Treliving’s patience wore thin in his first offseason as Leafs GM, so he signed Klingberg to a more expensive contract. We all know how that worked out.

Dumba is being dangled by the Coyotes, however, Friedman circled back on him recently and had this to say:

I thought about Matt Dumba and Toronto since the Maple Leafs gave him a look before committing to John Klingberg, but there was pushback on that idea. Dumba likes big stages, though.

Dumba loves to throw his weight around, he can kill penalties, he’s right-handed obviously and these attributes seem to be what’s on Treliving’s mind. The Coyotes recently played the Leafs in Toronto and Dumba was asked about last summer’s conversations: