5 Former Toronto Maple Leafs Who Could Return at Trade Deadline

The Toronto Maple Leafs haven’t been shy at trading for former players in the past and that could happen once again at this year’s NHL Trade Deadline.

The most famous re-return at the NHL Trade Deadline in Toronto Maple Leafs history has to be Doug Gilmour. After spending six seasons with the team in the early-to-mid 1990s, Gilmour was one of (and still is) the biggest fan-favorites in team history.

During Gilmour’s first run in Toronto, the team made it to back-to-back Conference Finals, coming ever so close to their first Stanley Cup appearance since 1967. We can all blame Kerry Fraser for his blown call, making that arguably the biggest “what-if” in Leafs history.

After being traded at the deadline in 1997, Gilmour returned to the Leafs via trade at the 2003 deadline, hoping for one last kick at glory in the blue-and-white. However, that worst-case scenario happened as Gilmour was injured in the second-period of his first game, which sent him into retirement.

Gilmour only played a few shifts with Toronto and never received that true send-off and huge applause from the home crowd as the last game he ever played, happened in Calgary.

It was a disappointing end to his great career and although it didn’t work out, it was still great to see him play one last game with Toronto. As we look to this year’s deadline, there are definitely a few former Leafs available, so it wouldn’t shock me if one of them returns.

GM Kyle Dubas is no stranger to bringing back players he likes, so I’m sure he’ll do it again this year.

Here are five former Toronto Maple Leafs who could return at the NHL Trade Deadline.

Ex Toronto Maple Leafs Who Might Come Back:

No. 1: Alexander Barabanov

Remember when the Leafs signed Barabanov in April, 2020 and the entire Leafs community was excited about his skillset? The 25-year-old at the time was supposed to come in and be a wrecking ball for the Leafs, who was also going to provide skill up-front.

At $925K, he was the perfect player for the Leafs, as all signs pointed towards him out-performing that contract, similar to someone like Michael Bunting, currently.

Well, April, 2020 was a weird time and Barabanov only played 13 career games with the Leafs, before getting traded to the San Jose Sharks. In those 13 games, he only registered one assist, so it wasn’t a great debut, but he’s hit his potential now in San Jose.

In 120 games, he has 19 goals and 69 points, proving to be a very effective player. The Sharks gave him a two-year-deal worth $2.5M AAV, with a modified no-trade-clause, so they really hit the jackpot with him, unlike Toronto.

However, the Sharks are terrible and his name has been brought up as a potential trade target. As a result, the Leafs could bring him back with hopes that he’ll be the player they thought they were getting when they originally signed him in 2020.

No. 2: Calle Rosen

He’s been traded, and traded for, by the Leafs before, so could it happen again this year’s NHL Trade Deadline?

Rosen was famously traded in the Nazem Kadri deal which shipped them both to Colorado and then returned a few months later in a deal which involved Michael Hutchinson. The left-shot defenseman struggled to make an impact in the NHL with Toronto and Colorado, but has recently found his calling in St. Louis with the Blues.

In 34 games, Rosen has seven goals and 15 points and could be a cheap player to add to Toronto’s blue-line at only $762K AAV for the next two years.

Dubas is very familiar with this player and clearly likes him if he traded for him within the year after trading him, so it wouldn’t be shocking to see him added as depth defenseman. The Leafs need help with offense from the blue-line and his seven goals thus far suggests he can find the back of the net.

The Blues are in sell-mode, so look for them as a team that Toronto makes a deal with.

No. 4: James Reimer

At $2.25M and on an expiring contract, Reimer is an affordable goalie option for the Leafs at the Trade Deadline this year.

Before you yell at your computer or smart phone and say that this would be a terrible transaction, hear me out. Reimer’s stats may not be starting goalie material this year, but over the past five years, he’s been a respectable NHL goalie.

With Matt Murray’s health in-question, Reimer could provide some stability down the stretch, but could also fill in, if the worst happens to Ilya Samsonov.

Imagine Reimer comes in during the playoffs and is the hero for Toronto, helping them finally win a playoff series? It would come full circle from the 4-1 Game 7 collapse against Boston 10 years ago and would turn him into a god in the city.

That’s obviously the last thing we want to happen, but if Murray can’t stay healthy, Reimer could be a solid back-up and worst-case scenario in case of injury.

No. 5: James van Riemsdyk

JVR (50 percent retained) for Alex Kerfoot straight up; who says no?

Van Riemsdyk was a beloved Leaf and one of the most reliable scorers in a dead era of Toronto hockey. In his last season in Toronto, he scored 36 goals and played amazing beside Mitch Marner, who he could reunite with.

Trading Kerfoot for JVR would be a perfect fit when you think about it.

As much as Kerfoot is a great utility man, playing up-and-down the line-up, van Riemsdyk is still a top-six forward. Despite his struggles in Philadelphia this year, he would still be a big addition to the Leafs top-six and his familiarity with Marner and others could work well.

It would still be a risk, but at least the money would work in that trade and you would be improving the roster.

This probably won’t come to fruition, but JVR would be a welcomed fit back in Toronto and I think the fans would be happy to see him return.