As we have moved into September, training camp for NHL teams is set to open soon. The Toronto Maple Leafs and their fans should be excited in looking forward to a new season after a frustrating finish to their 2025-26 campaign. After all, the club had an extensive overhaul for both their management and their roster this offseason with hopes to get the Maple Leafs back into contending status.
Led by Leafs GM John Chayka, Toronto made various moves this summer to help reshape the player landscape for the organization going forward. Whether it be by trades, free agent signings, or even just drafting, those transactions will likely have an impact on the Maple Leafs’ future in one way or another. As a result, we will take a look at the 3 best moves that were made by Chayka and the Leafs this offseason.
Trading for Nick Paul
Knowing ahead of time that the Maple Leafs won’t be carrying three goaltenders into the regular season for 2026-27, Chayka wisely dealt promising rookie Dennis Hildeby to the Tampa Bay Lightning along with a couple of draft picks for the versatile Nick Paul. It was a smart move because Hildeby would require waivers this year if the Leafs were to send him back down to the Marlies to start the season. With his solid performance with Toronto last season in his limited appearances, there was no doubt that he would be quickly snatched up by another team, which would leave the Leafs empty-handed with their prized asset.
As a result, getting an impactful player in Paul in return helped lessen the blow in losing such a promising goaltender so early in their career. With Paul, the Maple Leafs get potentially a 20-goal scorer that could play up and down in the lineup, along with providing grinding minutes in a defensive and penalty kill role at the same time. That valuable versatility could become a difference maker for the Leafs this season as a result.
Acquiring Darren Raddysh from the Tampa Bay Lightning
It has been a while since the Maple Leafs had a booming shot from the blue line to quarterback their power play. Jake Muzzin was probably the closest one that they had this decade, but the Leafs ended up using him more primarily in a defensive role for the bulk of his tenure with the club. But now with the addition of Darren Raddysh and his lethal shot from the Lightning, they may finally have an added weapon going forward with the man advantage.
The Maple Leafs power play had been strong in recent years, but had become more predictable over time as opposing teams knew that Morgan Rielly wasn’t going to let one go from the point. Even when Toronto utilized a five-forward setup with the man advantage, none of the forwards had that wicked shot from the blue line if needed. Raddysh will now have that added element for the Leafs power play to convert it into a potent unit once again heading into the season. With his breakout campaign last year in Tampa Bay in which he registered 22 goals, including 10 with the man advantage, Toronto will now have a threat from the back end for opponents to worry about each night.
Selecting Gavin McKenna first overall at the 2026 NHL Draft
It may have felt like an obvious choice, but Chayka could have gone with Ivar Stenberg or even one of the young elite defenseman in the 2026 NHL Draft instead of Gavin McKenna with the Leafs first pick. However, he made the wise decision in the end to stick with McKenna, as most Maple Leafs fans had wished for. That, in itself, could be a massive game changer for Toronto not only for this season but for the many years beyond.
Yes, the Leafs could have addressed their main need of landing a future No. 1 defenseman, or even get the well-rounded and mature play of Stenberg to kickstart their upcoming campaign. But when you have the opportunity to draft a potential generational talent in McKenna that could become the next Patrick Kane or even Sidney Crosby, you do so without asking any questions. Defense can be taught, but having elite vision and exceptional playmaking on the ice is something that’s innate in a player’s makeup. McKenna indeed has that vision and high hockey IQ, giving him a potentially limitless ceiling. As a result, this is the best move of the Maple Leafs this offseason and perhaps eventually of all time down the road.
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