3 Hypothetical Toronto Maple Leafs Offseason Trades

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Expect the Toronto Maple Leafs to make a trade this offseason sooner than later.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have been very active in free agency thus far, which means they’ll have to make a trade to stay salary-cap compliant.

Brad Treliving has added “snot” to the line-up and in my opinion, this team is better than they were last year.

However, they are about to get worse if they trade William Nylander, unless they somehow become one of the only teams to trade away a star scoring winger in his prime and get back good value.

Nylander is the most interesting case right now for the Leafs because we’ve seen him drag out contract negotiations before. However, this one is different because he’s still technically under contract for one more season.

If the Leafs and Nylander can’t get a deal done over the summer, he’s not going to sit out like he did a few years ago, but it could mean that he’ll be on another team that is willing to pay him a pricey extension.

Toronto has three options they can do with Nylander right now.

Sign him to an extension
Trade him
Wait until 2024 offseason to negotiate

No. 1 or No. 2 are the best options for the Leafs because with those scenarios, it gives them control of Nylander. If they go with No. 3, they’ll most likely be losing him for nothing next offseason.

If Nylander scores 40 goals and helps this team win a Stanley Cup next year, then No. 3 is a fine option, but I think the Leafs would much rather lock him up long-term or trade him while his value is the highest so they’re losing him for nothing.

The Toronto Raptors just went through this scenario with Fred VanVleet and it turned out to the best worst case scenario because they let him walk for nothing, while losing in the play-in round. They secured zero assets for a player that would have fetched them a sizeable return.

Here are three hypothetical trades you could expect the Toronto Maple Leafs to make this offseason.

SUNRISE, FL – MARCH 23: Goaltender Matt Murray #30 of the Toronto Maple Leafs warms up prior to the game against the Florida Panthers at the FLA Live Arena on March 23, 2023 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images) /

Toronto Maple Leafs Hypothetical Off-Season Trade No. 1: Matt Murray

Toronto Maple Leafs acquire: 2025 7th Round Draft Pick or Future Considerations
Arizona Coyotes acquire: Matt Murray

When in doubt, you always call the Arizona Coyotes if you need to clear some salary-cap space.

Also, if you’re the Coyotes, Murray is the prefect type of player you take a chance on.

When you have two Stanley Cup rings, like Murray does, team’s will continue to value you, regardless of your current situation.

Murray has been injury-prone over the past few years, but he showed some promise during his time in Toronto last year. His statistics (.903 SV% and 3.01 GAA) were essentially average last year, but he had a nice stretch where it felt like he’d the starter in April before he got injured yet again.

Murray has been under the spotlight in Ottawa and Toronto over the past few years, so going into hiding in Arizona could be really beneficial for him.

With zero cameras on him, Murray could just focus on hockey, which may resurrect his career.

This is a win-win for both teams and for Murray, who desperately needs a restart.

Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 2: TJ Brodie

Toronto Maple Leafs acquire: 2024 3rd Round Pick
Seattle Kraken acquire: TJ Brodie

The Seattle Kraken currently have some salary-cap space and could also use a veteran defenseman, as they have three pending RFA defenseman to sign.

The newest expansion team shocked everyone as they advanced to the Second Round this year and are well on their way to contending in the Western Conference.

As much as everyone thought they would look to rebuild for a few more years, it feels like they’re ready to compete.

Brodie is a Brad Treliving guy, having played under him for years, but his $5M contract makes him expendable, especially after the team signed John Klingberg.

If the Leafs think Topi Niemela is ready for the NHL, they should be shedding Brodie’s contract immediately to replace him with a player on an Entry Level Contract.

Over the past few years, Brodie has been a steady top-two/top-four defenseman for the Leafs, but that wouldn’t be on the case on many other teams.

The 33-year-old has one year left on his deal and should not return in 2024, so it would be best to move on from him now if they can.

May 12, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander (88) celebrates after scoring against the Florida Panthers in the third period in game five of the second round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 3: William Nylander

Toronto Maple Leafs acquire: Mason McTavish, John Gibson (Ducks retain 50%) and 2024 1st Round Pick
Anaheim Ducks acquire: William Nylander and Calle Jarnkrok

Here’s a wild trade for you!

The Ducks would receive a superstar 40-goal scorer in Nylander and probably sign him to an eight-year extension, while the Leafs get a potential star in McTavish and number-one goalie in Gibson for only $3.2M per year for four more years.

Gibson has not been good for the past few years, but he’s clearly been unhappy in Anaheim for awhile now, as the team has been terrible.

A change of scenery could be exactly what he’s looking for and the Leafs are currently without a legitimate number-one goalie.

It’s possible that Ilya Samsonov re-signs or that the team could run with Joseph Woll as the starter, but I feel like they’d feel safer with Gibson.

Finding a trade partner for Nylander is a lot harder than you think because you still need to shed some salary, all while trying to get solid value back.

By trading for McTavish, you get a top-six forward but you delay paying him for two more years which is huge.

You wouldn’t have to pay him until Mitch Marner and John Tavares’ salary-cap comes off the books, so it buys you a few more years with this current core, all while making your future better.

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This trade may be insane, but I think it’s a win-win for both organizations.

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