3 Realistic Hypothetical Toronto Maple Leafs Trades

No. 1: Connor Brown Returns to the Toronto Maple Leafs

Originally traded in a blockbuster deal that included Nikita Zaitsev, the Leafs may want to consider bringing back Brown, who’s been a great piece on the Ottawa Senators.

The Senators have been a terrible team in the three years that Brown has played there, but he’s been a bright spot. With one year left on his contract before he becomes a free agent, the Leafs may be inclined to trade for Brown, who could be a great fit and potential replacement for Ondrej Kase on the third-line.

The Ottawa Senators have all of the cap-space in the world and have been known to take on big contracts from the Leafs before, so this could be a great landing spot for Petr Mrazek.

Ottawa currently has a terrible contract in Matt Murray, who’s owed $6.25M for the next two years, so Toronto could take on his salary, but bury him in the minors because money isn’t a worry for them. The Senators bankroll isn’t as high as Toronto’s, so losing that salary may actually help Ottawa and do them a huge favor.

As such, with Toronto continuing its rebuild, here’s the trade could work:

• Toronto Maple Leafs acquire: Connor Brown (50% salary retained from Ottawa) and Matt Murray
• Ottawa Senators acquire: Petr Mrazek, 2023 3rd Round Pick and Joey Anderson

Toronto gets a solid pro at half his salary in Brown who can contribute on the third-line and can bury Murray’s contract in the minors. Meanwhile, the Senators get a No. 1A/1B goaltender, a prospect to replace Brown on the wing and a draft-pick.

Everybody wins.