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Are the Toronto Maple Leafs Talking Extension with Luke Schenn?

By Jeremy Ridgewell

VANCOUVER, CANADA - MARCH 4: Luke Schenn #2 of the Toronto Maple Leafs waits for a face-off during the first period of their NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on March 4, 2023 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, CANADA - MARCH 4: Luke Schenn #2 of the Toronto Maple Leafs waits for a face-off during the first period of their NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on March 4, 2023 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images) /
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Are the Toronto Maple Leafs and defenseman Luke Schenn close to signing a contract extension?

According to Rick Dhaliwal from the Donnie and Dhali show in Vancouver, Schenn, and the Toronto Maple Leafs are in contract negotiations.

Dhaliwal knows Schenn well from Schenn’s time with the Vancouver Canucks. He states that Schenn is looking for a bump in pay, some term, and trade protection.

The 33-year-old veteran defenseman is coming off a two-year deal worth $1.7 million. Schenn’s cap hit was $850,000 a season. He was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs at the 2023 NHL trade deadline.

Schenn performed better than expected during the 2023 NHL playoffs, so a bump in pay is warranted. Toronto head coach Sheldon Keefe trusted Schenn enough to play the rugged defenseman on the top pair with Morgan Rielly.

He averaged 17:27 minutes of ice time during the playoffs and registered 17 blocked shots and 54 hits in 11 games. His 14 giveaways compared to his six takeaways were not good.  At even-strength, Schenn was on the ice for just two goals against.

Dhaliwal also pointed out new Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving tried to acquire Schenn at the NHL trade deadline in February while with the Calgary Flames. So Treliving is obviously a fan of Schenn and sees a place for him on Toronto’s blueline.

What Will a Schenn Extension Look Like with Toronto Maple Leafs?

Schenn hasn’t earned more than $1.25 million in a season since the 2015-16 season. I wouldn’t expect his increase to be much higher than the $850,000 he earned last season.

As for a new deal being a multi-year deal, I don’t think Treliving will sign Schenn for more than two years. Schenn will be 34 on November 2nd, so a two-year extension will take him until he’s almost 36.

With Schenn having a young family, it is understandable why he wants trade security as part of his new contract. Knowing you’ll be in the same city on the same team for the next couple of years will remove that trade burden from the back of Schenn’s mind. His family could relax and settle in while Schenn tries to help the Maple Leafs win a Stanley Cup.

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I expect a contract extension between Schenn and the Toronto Maple Leafs to look similar to the deal Toronto signed Mark Giordano to last off-season. My guess is two years, $950,000 a season, with a no-movement clause.

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