The Toronto Maple Leafs will head into what could be a type of “hybrid” NHL trade deadline. The Leafs could be both buyers and sellers at the deadline. However, buying and selling depend on the price tag of the pieces involved.
The Leafs don’t really have the pieces to be major buyers at the deadline. Likewise, the team doesn’t really have high-end pieces to be sellers.
That’s quite the conundrum.
Still, one player is seeing increasing interest: Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson. An earlier piece looked into the interest that Ekman-Larsson had been getting prior to the Olympics. While Ekman-Larsson is currently in Milano-Cortina, the interest in him back home continues to grow.
According to insider David Pagnotta, the Maple Leafs could pull the trigger if the price is right. In particular, if there’s a team willing to pay the price for Ekman-Larsson, Toronto could go ahead and jettison the veteran blueliner.
“If somebody’s willing to pay a premium, I think they’d consider it.”
That’s a bit of a major if. Yes, there are teams out there looking for blueline help. But would they be willing to pay whatever the Leafs want? Most importantly, what would that price tag be?
It’s tough to see the Leafs asking for a first-round pick in exchange for Ekman-Larsson. But then again, this trade deadline is bereft of sellers. That opens an opportunity for the Maple Leafs to cash in if they so choose.
Ekman-Larsson Has Major Selling Point
Beyond Ekman-Larsson’s evident skill set, he’s got one major selling point: His palatable cap hit. The 34-year-old is under contract for two more seasons at $3.5 million per year. Looking at this year’s deadline, that’s a cap hit just about any team could fit in.
Considering the term on Ekman-Larsson’s contract and cap hit, the Maple Leafs could set a high asking price. Going out on a limb, the asking price could be a first-round pick plus a prospect. The Leafs’ thought process could be to recoup the assets they gave up for Brandon Carlo last season.
That’s a fine needle to thread for GM Brad Treliving. But if there’s a team out there desperate enough for a blueliner, the Leafs could make a push to recover the assets they seek.
Maple Leafs Would Still Need to Replace Ekman-Larsson
The other side of the Ekman-Larsson trade would be replacing his production on the team. He’s been the club’s best blueliner. His eight goals and 34 points in 57 games are precisely the reason why he’s getting so much attention.
That’s production that the Leafs would struggle to replace internally. So, it could mean that the Maple Leafs might ask for a blueline prospect as part of the package of Ekman-Larsson.
Then again, the 2026 NHL Draft might offer a solution. That’s a forward-thinking approach that would hardly be a short-term solution. But when looking at a potential retool for Toronto, getting picks and/or prospects for Ekman-Larsson could be the best path forward.
It remains unclear what the Maple Leafs will do at the deadline. They’ll have a batch of games leading up to the March 6 deadline to determine, once and for all, what they’ll do.
Maple Leafs Blueliner Gets Increasing Interest