2025 NHL Trade Deadline Odds and Rumours: Adding secondary scoring is key for Maple Leafs

With the Atlantic Division wide open for the taking and the Eastern Conference lacking a clear-cut juggernaut, the Toronto Maple Leafs have a great chance to position themselves for a deep playoff run.

The next step is loading up the roster before Friday’s trade deadline, so let’s take a look at what the Leafs could be planning.

2025 NHL Trade Deadline Tracker: Latest moves, updates and rumours

Targets

Toronto’s focus is believed to be adding secondary scoring, particularly a third-line centre. Names like Brock Nelson, Brayden Schenn and Scott Laughton are the most-likely targets.

Nelson is a pure rental as an impending free agent, but of the three names I mentioned, he provides the best depth at 3C behind Auston Matthews and John Tavares. Nelson has already hit the 20-goal mark for the ninth time in his career and the Leafs could also re-sign him as a replacement if Tavares walks in free agency.

Schenn, who has three years left on his contract after this one, already has the connection with his brother Luke playing four seasons in Toronto, but he also has a connection with head coach Craig Berube. Schenn was a key piece of Berube’s 2019 St. Louis Blue Stanley Cup winning team, so there’s already a trust between them.

Laughton doesn’t provide the same offensive upside as Nelson or Schenn, but at 30-years-old, he’s three years younger than both players and he’s signed for another season at a very reasonable $3 million cap hit, half of hat Nelson and Schenn are making. Laughton also provides a much-needed gritty, physical presence for the team.

Trade chips

Nicholas Robertson remains the most valuable trade chip on the roster. After asking for a trade in the off-season, Robertson’s future clearly isn’t in Toronto, so it’s time to move on from the 23-year-old and leverage him in a deal to upgrade the team’s third line.

You also have to think prospects Easton Cowan and Fraser Minten are going to be hard to keep if Toronto truly wants to upgrade the roster. Cowan has a ridiculous 147 points over his last 93 OHL games and he’s the Maple Leafs’ undeninable No. 1 prospect. Minten doesn’t have the same upside as Cowan, but he’s viewed as more NHL ready and more defensively responsible.

Draft picks will obviously be shipped out. Right now, the Leafs doesn’t have a first-round pick in 2025, but they do have one in 2026 they could leverage. For comparison, Florida used a 2026 first-round pick to land Seth Jones.

Speaking of the Panthers, Toronto swapped their 2024 second-round pick for Florida’s 2025 second-rounder and that’s a bullet they’re bound to use as well.