List of Leafs Trade Assets
Nikita Grebenkin, W, 21, 2yrs x ELC
The Maple Leafs fifth round pick in 2022 was drafted as an overager out of the Metallurg Magnitogorsk system in Russia. He is another player that broke out just after his draft year, winning the KHL's rookie of the year award and cementing himself as a legitimate KHL forward.
The next year, he won a Gargarin Cup with Magnitogorsk before inking his entry-level contract and coming to North America. He came and immediately impressed in the pre-season and his first few NHL games as a call-up early in the year showing off his blended gritty and skilled game. He projects to be at least a decent third line winger at the NHL level. I have him slotted below because I am less certain in his NHL projection and he plays a less valuable position than Minten who is a center.
Noah Chadwick, LD, 19, 3yrs x ELC
Chadwick was a sixth round pick by the Leafs in 2023, he possesses good size and a decent offensive game but his biggest weakness is his skating. He had a big breakout after his draft year, winnign CHL and WHL Scholastic player of the year award. He has accumulated impressive totals since then, currently sitting seventh in scoring amongst WHL defencemen over the past two years with 99 points (23 goals and 76 assists) in 118 games.
In saying all of this, Chadwick for me projects mainly as a No. 4-6 defender who can play secondary powerplay or penalty kill. Chadwick has shown some leadership qualities, wearing a "C" this year for the Lethbridge Hurricanes, which may provide some value to a team. I still think that he would likely hold value as the second or third piece in a deadline deal.
Topi Niemela, RD, 22, 1yr x ELC
Niemela was drafted by the Leafs in the third round in 2020 and he seemingly fell into the club's lap being ranked by many much higher. The next two years, Niemela would validate those feelings winning the World Juniors best defensemen award and then have a breakout 2021-22 season in the Finnish Liiga amassing 32 points in 48 games as a defenceman.
The projection has always been that he is a high-IQ defender with good skating and some offensive skills, which should make up for his smaller frame (6-0, 180lbs). Under the current regime, he definitely does not fit the desirable mould for a blueliner and as such, has found himself a healthy scratch on multiple occasions with the AHL's Toronto Marlies. His value is surely at the lowest point it has been since he was drafted but if a team believes in their pro scouts and thinks he may fit into their defensive corps, he could be a secondary piece in a trade.
Nick Robertson, W, 23, 1yr x $875K
The undersized winger was the Maple Leafs second round draft pick in 2019. After returning to the Peterborough Petes in his post-draft season, he scored an eye-popping 55 goals in 46 games before his season was cancelled due to the pandemic.
His performance lead many fans to anoint him a core piece of the future and unfortuantely, that has not been the case. He has shown through over 100 NHL games, that he is capable of at minimum providing secondary scoring at the highest level in the sport.
This is evident even with some scoring troubles this year, holding him to only eight goals and 12 points in 47 games. No matter what, he was more successful than most late second round picks are. However, it feels like his time in Toronto is set to end at any point, especially after a public trade request by his camp over the summer. His trade value is at the lowest it has ever been and as such may only net a small return, which could be worth it if the team can find an upgrade.
Matt Benning, RD, 30, 2yrs x $1.25M
Benning was acquired in the Timothy Liljegren trade to the San Jose Sharks earlier this year and was immediately sent to the Marlies. There were reports that the Leafs may try to move him but so far that has not happened. It would not surprise me if he was a minor move at the deadline for a late round pick as a depth defender for another team. He could also just as easily be kept as a depth defender for the Leafs in case of injuries down the stretch. It is a business after all but I cannot imagine the team would force him down a level if there is a legitimate appetite for him on another team at the deadline.
The NHL trade deadline is only a few short weeks away and with the 4 Nations Face-off ending in less than a week, trades should follow shortly after despite there being no official roster freeze. The Leafs should be diligent in addressing their needs, hopefully making bigger deals than the ones completed last season.