Two Possible Off-Season Trades For the Toronto Maple Leafs

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Now that the Toronto Maple Leafs have their new GM, Brad Treliving, it’s time to think about some trades he could make this off-season.

The Toronto Maple Leags will likely need to make at least one to move to give himself more salary cap space.

According to capfriendly.com, the Leafs have $9.1 million in salary cap space for next season, with the NHL salary cap limit listed as $83.5 million.

There is still time for the salary cap limit to rise even more, but for now, $83.5 million is what we have to work with.

The current $9.1 million is more than enough for Treliving to fill all the vacant roster spots, but that wouldn’t improve the team very much.

The Leafs need to fill five forward spots and one spot on defense.

Re-signing restricted free agent (RFA) goaltender Ilya Samsonov, or pending UFA Ryan O’Reilly wouldn’t leave much room for anyone else, so some of the signed players may have to go.

Some roster spots will go to inexpensive prospects like Matthew Knies or Bobby McMann, but Treliving will need cap space if he wants to attract any unrestricted free agents (UFA) this summer.

There are a two players on Toronto’s roster that Treliving could trade to either try and get better players or to relieve the Maple Leafs salary cap burden.

The team still has the services of Brandon Pridham, so whatever they decide to do, their cap will be in good hands. Here is a look at some players Treliving could trade this off-season.

Toronto Maple Leafs Trade Matt Murray

Last July, the Toronto Maple Leafs acquired goaltender Matt Murray, a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, and a seventh-round selection in the 2024 NHL Draft from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for future considerations. Ottawa also retained 25% of Murray’s salary as part of the trade.

Although many at the time were upset that Ottawa only retained 25% instead of 50%, Ottawa still paid Toronto to take Murray off their hands. Unfortunately, Murray’s injury history did not improve in Toronto.

When he did play for the Toronto Maple Leafs, he wasn’t awful, but he did lack consistency. Murray registered a 14-8-2 record in 26 for the Maple Leafs. He finished the season with a 3.01 GAA and a .903 SV%. (Stats from hockey-reference.com)

Finding a way to trade Murray’s $4.6 million cap hit for next season is one option for Treliving to use this summer. To make a deal happen, Treliving might have to retain 25% of Murray’s contract. Doing so would still create $3.515 million in added cap space for Toronto.

With the way both Ilya Samsonov and Joseph Woll played this season, Murray is expendable. Clearing his cap space is the biggest part of any return Toronto gets for Murray.

Treliving will likely try to recoup a late round draft pick or future considerations for Murray. The Chicago Blackhawks, Anaheim Ducks, and Arizona Coyotes are teams expected to be looking for a goaltender this off-season.

Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /

Toronto Maple Leafs Trade T.J. Brodie

T.J. Brodie is entering the final year of his contract. He carries a $5 million cap hit that Treliving could use towards improving the team.

Brodie plays a ton of minutes and has been reliable for the Maple Leafs since they signed him to a four-year deal in 2020.

In the first year of his contract, Brodie had a no-movement clause. The second and third years of his deal had a no-trade clause. That no-trade clause becomes a modified no-trade clause this year. Brodie must submit a list of ten teams he’ll accept a trade to.

Brodie played for Treliving in Calgary, and Treliving was willing to trade Brodie to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2019 for Nazem Kadri, but Kadri rejected the trade. If he was okay with trading Brodie once, who’s to say Treliving won’t be willing to trade him again?

Brodie’s production has started to decline. The Maple Leafs are not getting enough from Brodie to merit the $5 million they’re paying him. With that being said, I’m sure Treliving would be able to find a trade partner for Brodie’s services within the players’ team no-trade list.

With Timothy Liljegren and Conor Timmins on the right side, as well as having Jake McCabe, who can play the left or right side, Brodie is expendable. The Leafs could use Brodie’s $5 million toward a better top-four defenseman for either the right or left side. Brodie is no longer worth the $5 million he is making, and it’s time for Toronto to move on.

Next. Nylander for a Numer-One Defenseman. dark

The Toronto Maple Leafs have no draft picks in the second, third, or fourth rounds in the 2023 NHL draft. They could try to recoup one of those in a trade for Brodie.

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