With the 2024-25 NHL trade deadline approaching in less than six weeks time, the Toronto Maple Leafs will be looking to make some moves to bolster their roster ahead of the stretch run.
The Toronto Maple Leafs may focus on specific needs to address particular weaknesses on the team, or they could potentially surprise us all with unexpected trade candidates in the process.
Either way, their main goal is to give themselves the best chance at winning the Stanley Cup when all is said and done.
But in order to make things happen, the Leafs will likely need to give up some valuable assets, since to get quality, you need to give up quality as well. As a result, what would be their top 3 trade chips that they could use to get the job done by the time the deadline rolls around?
The 3 Most Valuable Trade Chips for the Maple Leafs Ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline
First Round Draft Pick
Time and time again, the Leafs have given up their first round draft pick to land an impactful player via the trade route. Whether it was for Jake Muzzin in 2019, Nick Foligno in 2021, or Ryan O’Reilly and Jake McCabe in 2023, none of it would have happened without Toronto sacrificing a highly-coveted first round pick in the process. After all, for any rebuilding NHL team, one of the best building blocks to start with is getting as many top early round picks as possible.
The Maple Leafs currently do not own a first rounder for the upcoming 2025 NHL Entry Draft. However, they still have their 2026 and 2027 first round picks at their disposal. Given that they have already lost their 2026 second and fourth round picks in previous trades with the Chicago Blackhawks and the Minnesota Wild respectively, it would make the most sense for them to move their 2027 first rounder before even considering their 2026 one.
But then again, for a team that may not want to wasted any time and actually want to speed up their rebuilding process, they may not have the patience to wait for that extra year before nabbing a potential top prospect. Nevertheless, one way or another, expect at least one first round selection to be moved by the Leafs this year if they are indeed serious in their playoff aspirations.