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5 Toronto Maple Leafs Players That Should Be Gone by the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline

With the Maple Leafs likely to make significant moves ahead of the trade deadline, which players could see their days remaining in the organization numbered?
ByEdward Eng|
Nov 2, 2024; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs center Steven Lorentz (18) is congratulated by right wing Ryan Reaves (75) and defenseman Conor Timmins (25) after scoring against the St. Louis Blues during the third period at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
Nov 2, 2024; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs center Steven Lorentz (18) is congratulated by right wing Ryan Reaves (75) and defenseman Conor Timmins (25) after scoring against the St. Louis Blues during the third period at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
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D Topi Niemela

For a while, Topi Niemela has been ranked as the top defenseman prospect in the Leafs organization after the likes of Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren graduated to join the NHL.

As the Maple Leafs third round pick from the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, Niemela had a strong first full season with the Marlies in 2023-24 when he put up 8 goals, 31 assists for 39 points in just 68 games played. More importantly, they gave Niemela the opportunity to grow and develop his game in all situations, with hopes that he will become a strong top-four option once he hits the NHL.

However this season, his production has dropped off a bit as he has accumulated just 11 assists in 29 games to date with the Marlies. Nevertheless, his offensive and defensive skills still showed some promise, as he aims to work hard to get his opportunity to play in the NHL sooner rather than later. However, that chance might not come with the Leafs though.

With the Leafs looking for the missing pieces to their winning puzzle at the trade deadline, they have shown in the past to not be afraid to deal their top defensive prospects for quality help. In 2019, Sean Durzi was traded to the Los Angeles Kings along with Carl Grundstrom and a 2019 first round pick for the Leafs to land stud defenceman Jake Muzzin. In 2023, Sandin was dealt to the Washington Capitals for power play specialist Erik Gustafsson and a first round pick that turned into Cowan in the end. 

Therefore, no top defensive prospect appears to be safe on the Leafs if they need to move them to get the vital piece that they covet. In particular, with the Leafs pretty much set with their starting defensive six going forward with Morgan Rielly, Chris Tanev, Jake McCabe, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Simon Benoit and Hakanpaa (with the latter two likely replaced if the Leafs add any defensemen at the deadline), Niemela will be in tough to challenge for an NHL spot in the near future.

With that in mind, being able to recoup some assets for him while capitalizing on his potential now makes most sense for Toronto.

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