Third-Line Center Trade Options for Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs are gearing up for the 2024-25 NHL season with the same question that has haunted the team on and off for years and that is: who will be the third line center?

Personally, I believe the best internal option for the third line center is either John Tavares or to test Fraser Minten again to see if this past year of junior now makes him the best option to play centre on the third line for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Leafs could turn either Marner or Nylander into a centre, play Tavares on the third line, and have a star player centring each line.

This is a much better idea than using the 34 year-old Tavares on the second line and having too many wingers on the roster and also needing to go outside the organization for a trade.

If the Leafs choose not to convert one of Marner or Nylander, they have only temporary options left between Calle Järnkrok, Max Domi or Pontus Holmberg the team will need to go out and find a better solution.

Below or some trade options that the general manager Brad Treliving could go after to improve the team.

Third-Line Center Trade Options for Toronto Maple Leafs

Scott Laughton - Philadelphia Flyers

The former first round pick of the Philadelphia Flyers is now 30-years old and has two years left on a modest $3M cap hit salary (ref: PuckPedia.com).

Laughton averaged around 15-minutes of ice-time this past season, which included nearly two minutes on the penalty kill. He comes with some offensive value as he has averaged 41-points the last two seasons, including 18-goals just two years ago, but at 30 has very little upside.

The former Oshawa General averages nearly two hits a game over his career which has not slowed down and even garnered some Frank J. Selke considerations, albeit one fifth place vote.

Boone Jenner - Columbus Blue Jackets

One of the most realistic players that I could see the Maple Leafs acquiring and the one I've wanted the team to go after for a couple years now is Columbus Blue Jacket captain Boone Jenner.

Another former Oshawa General played alongside Laughton for four seasons. Jenner has two-years left on a reasonable $3.75M cap hit and scored 20+ goal in three consecutive seasons.

The downside is he likely could have scored 30 had he stayed healthy as he has missed 61 games over those three years.

Jean-Garbriel Pageau - New York Islanders

Like so many players in the past, Jean-Gabriel Pageau had a career year during his contract season in 2019-20 when he scored 26-goals that helped him earn a six-year contract worth $5 Million per season.

Pageau now has just two seasons left and the contract may be a little tough to swallow for a guy that has averaged 12-goals per season over the last two years.

If Treliving could get the Islanders to retain a good chunk of the salary, the nearly 200 hits he threw last year and his top end face-off skills could be a welcomed addition.

Jake Evans - Montreal Canadiens

Jake Evans may be the best and easiest option to acquire for the Maple Leafs as the 28-year old is entering the final year of his three year contract that carries a cap hit of $1.7M.

The Montreal Canadiens forward played a career high 16:01 last season (ref: hockey-reference.com) and is an effective penalty killer playing more than three minutes a night shorthanded.

With unrestricted free agency looming and the Canadiens unlikely to compete for a playoff spot he could be the cheapest option.

Brock Nelson - New York Islanders

The player that carries one of the higher cap hits as potential centers is New York Islander Brock Nelson who has one-year left on a $6M per season contract.

Nelson is worth the money and has collected 107 goals over his last three season and averages more than 18-minutes a night. Like Jenner, Nelson could potentially help the team with having three scoring lines.

Claude Giroux - Ottawa Senators

Two summers ago, veteran Claude Giroux made a peculiar decision to sign with the rebuilding Ottawa Senators in hopes of helping them climb into a playoff hunt.

Unfortunately, now entering the final year of his contract the Senators have never been close and with things not looking like much has changed, Giroux may be looking at a last chance at going after a Stanley Cup.

Despite being 36 last season, the former first round pick averaged more than 20-minutes a night and collected 64-points. He has turned into a penalty kill specialist averaging two minutes a game.

Michael Rasmussen - Detroit Red Wings

This may be a bit of a long shot as Michael Rasmussen just signed a four-year extension last February and carries a modest $3.2M cap hit.

The former ninth overall pick has not exploded with the offensive upside that some thought he may have when he collected consecutive 30-goal seasons in the WHL, but he has fit into a bottom six forward role.

The 6'6" forward moved to the wing this past season for the majority of the season, but the 25-year old could easily move back to the middle. The last two seasons he has averaged more than 15-minutes a night and saw a 30% increase on the penalty kill.

Adam Lowry - Winnipeg Jets

A heart and soul player that wears the captaincy on his jersey, Adam Lowry would bring a lot to the Maple Leafs.

Lowry carries a ton of leadership and has been playing the third line center role for years in Winnipeg averaging 15:42 a night and 12 goals over the last four seasons.

Lowry is towering at 6'5" and uses his size as he has collected over 200 hits four different times over his career. Like many on this list, Lowry has modest cap hit as he has two years left at $3.25M per season.