The Toronto Maple Leafs have brought in many new players this offseason and are entering the 2026-27 season with the expectation of bouncing back because of it.
If the Maple Leafs become a playoff team again next season, they will likely look to boost their roster even further near the 2027 NHL Trade Deadline. The Maple Leafs still have some areas on their roster that they should look to address, so it would not be surprising if they end up being aggressive next season in the trade market.
Because of this, let's look at three former NHL first-round picks whom the Maple Leafs should target in a mid-season trade.
1. Jake DeBrusk, Vancouver Canucks
The Maple Leafs could use another scoring winger to solidify their top nine. Due to this, one player who the Original Six club should have on their radar is Canucks forward Jake DeBrusk. He would give them a long-term answer for their forward group, as he has a $5.5 million cap hit through 2030-31.
With the Canucks being in the middle of a rebuild, DeBrusk has been the subject of trade rumors for a long time now. If the Canucks do not trade him this summer, it would not be surprising if he gets moved during next season.
In 81 games last season with the Canucks, DeBrusk recorded 23 goals and 42 points in 81 games. With numbers like these, he would be a solid pickup for the Maple Leafs' middle six and power play if acquired.
2. Morgan Frost, Calgary Flames
Morgan Frost is another former first-round pick who could make a lot of sense for the Maple Leafs to target ahead of next season's trade deadline. The 27-year-old center is entering the final season of his contract with the rebuilding Flames in 2026-27 and has come up in the rumor mill often because of it.
Frost would give the Maple Leafs a clear answer for their third-line center spot and power play if acquired but he could also jump up to their second line if needed. The 2017 first-round pick appeared in 82 games last season with Calgary, where he recorded 22 goals and 43 points.
3. Shane Wright, Seattle Kraken
Shane Wright is another former first-round pick who could make a lot of sense for the Maple Leafs to acquire. Out of the three players on this list, he would cost the Maple Leafs the most in a trade, as he is only 22 years old and a former fourth-overall pick.
If Wright broke out in Toronto, he could offer the Maple Leafs a long-term answer for their top six. With the Maple Leafs in a retool, Wright is exactly the kind of young center who they should not be afraid to take a chance on.
Wright posted 12 goals and 27 points in 74 games last season with the Kraken but also had 19 goals and 44 points during the 2024-25 season. Perhaps a fresh start with the Maple Leafs could help the 2022 first-round pick tap more into his potential.
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