Since Auston Matthews was drafted in the summer of 2016, the Toronto Maple Leafs have consistently made the playoffs, though they have only won one playoff series in that time. As the trade deadline approaches, it’s clear the Leafs will once again be buyers, looking to strengthen their roster for a deeper playoff run. Currently leading the Atlantic Division with a 27-15-2 record, three games past the season’s midpoint, general manager Brad Treliving is already planning moves for the spring. His top priority is adding a middle-six center to complement Auston Matthews and John Tavares.
“We’ve got plenty of players who can play center,” Treliving said. “Is it an area we look to upgrade? Yes, but we’ve got pretty darn good players at the top with Auston Matthews and John Tavares. We’re not necessarily looking for someone above that level, but we’ll continue to explore options.”
With the trade market offering limited options and the difficulty of fitting a high-profile center under the salary cap, the Leafs will likely target a player who excels in a two-way game. “You want good players who can contribute both offensively and defensively,” Treliving noted. “The challenge is finding the right fit, as what you want doesn’t always align with what’s available.”
The Leafs don’t have a first-round pick for the upcoming draft, which limits their trade assets, but they do have a 2025 second-round pick and first-round picks in 2026 and 2027. Among the top centers on TSN’s trade bait list are J.T. Miller, Elias Pettersson, and Brock Nelson, but these players are likely out of the Leafs’ price range.
A more realistic option could be Philadelphia Flyers’ Scott Laughton, who is a defense-first center and an unrestricted free agent after next season. He has 31 points in 42 games and could provide the defensive support Toronto needs. Other possibilities include Seattle Kraken’s Yanni Gourde, a rental player, and Nashville Predators’ Ryan O’Reilly, who has two years left on his contract and would bring added depth and familiarity to the Leafs.