Toronto Maple Leafs roster-for-roster trade targets: Shaping the 2025-26 season

The Toronto Maple Leafs find themselves in unfamiliar territory as November winds down, languishing in the Eastern Conference basement after a disastrous start to the 2025-26 campaign. General manager Brad Treliving faces mounting pressure to orchestrate a roster shakeup, but the path forward is complicated by a series of offseason moves that have left the team with limited flexibility. During a recent media availability, Treliving suggested the organization is exploring “hockey trades” rather than blockbuster deals involving premium draft capital—a clear signal that roster-for-roster swaps are on the table.

This approach represents a significant shift in how Toronto might address its deficiencies. Rather than pursuing high-profile acquisitions that cost first-round picks or top prospects, the Maple Leafs appear willing to swap existing roster players in search of better fits. The concept, while straightforward in theory, presents unique challenges in practice. As detailed in our analysis of Toronto Maple Leafs roster-for-roster trade candidates for 2025-26, these moves require finding partners with complementary needs and matching salary structures, all while navigating a landscape cluttered with no-trade protections.

Why Toronto needs roster-for-roster trades now

The Maple Leafs’ struggles extend beyond mere puck luck or early-season jitters. The team has displayed systemic issues on both ends of the ice, ranking among the NHL’s worst defensive units while simultaneously failing to generate consistent offense from its bottom six forwards. This dual failure has created a perfect storm that simple lineup adjustments cannot fix. The roster construction, praised in September as deep and versatile, has revealed itself as ill-suited for head coach Craig Berube’s demanding system.

Salary cap considerations further complicate any potential moves. With the cap rising steadily, Toronto has multiple players locked into multi-year deals that looked reasonable in July but appear problematic in November. The challenge isn’t just adding talent—it’s creating roster spots and financial flexibility for future improvements. Roster-for-roster trades offer a unique solution: exchanging players with similar cap hits but different skill sets in hopes of finding the elusive chemistry that has escaped this group.

The concept of “addition by subtraction” looms large in these discussions. Moving a player who has struggled in Toronto’s environment isn’t merely about opening a roster spot; it’s about changing the room’s dynamic and potentially acquiring someone who better fits the team’s identity. This philosophy underpins much of Toronto’s current trade strategy, as Treliving seeks to balance short-term fixes with long-term sustainability.

Maple Leafs players who could be moved

Several Maple Leafs have found themselves at the center of trade speculation, with varying degrees of plausibility attached to their departures. Max Domi leads this group, his streaky offensive production and defensive lapses making him a candidate for a fresh start elsewhere. Domi’s playmaking ability could attract teams seeking middle-six center depth, particularly those with offensive systems designed to outscore defensive deficiencies. His contract structure makes him movable, though his no-trade clause requires careful navigation.

Brandon Carlo represents another intriguing case study. Acquired to provide stability on the right side of Toronto’s defense, Carlo has struggled to find his footing alongside Morgan Rielly. However, his skill set as a stay-at-home defender could prove valuable when paired with a more defensively responsible partner. Teams boasting star left-shot defensemen might view Carlo as the perfect complementary piece, capable of anchoring a penalty kill and providing physical presence.

Beyond these two, Toronto possesses a collection of depth pieces that could interest contenders or rebuilding clubs. Bobby McMann, Calle Jarnkrok, Nicolas Roy, Scott Laughton, Dakota Joshua, Simon Benoit, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson all fall into this category. Each brings specific strengths, but none have cemented themselves as indispensable parts of Toronto’s core. Trading these players wouldn’t net star returns, but could yield younger, faster alternatives with more upside.

The challenge lies in maximizing value while acknowledging reality. As The Athletic’s CJ Turtoro noted, “very little can be ruled out as a possibility at this point,” but Toronto isn’t “shopping superstars.” Every player below the top tier could be available for the right price, creating a fluid situation where Treliving must balance present needs against future considerations.

Prime roster-for-roster trade targets for the Maple Leafs

When identifying potential acquisitions, Toronto’s front office has reportedly prioritized youth and speed above all else. The Athletic’s trade board features several names that align perfectly with these criteria, offering glimpses of what might be possible through creative deal-making.

Brennan Othmann of the New York Rangers and Yegor Chinakhov of the Columbus Blue Jackets represent the archetype Toronto should pursue—talented young forwards with untapped potential who might benefit from increased opportunity. Both players have shown flashes at the NHL level but remain blocked on their current rosters by established veterans. A change of scenery could unlock their development while providing Toronto with cost-controlled assets.

Brad Lambert of the Winnipeg Jets has emerged as another fascinating target. Having requested a trade in search of greater opportunity, Lambert possesses the speed and skill Toronto covets. His price point should remain manageable, and his versatility allows him to slot into various lineup configurations. For a team seeking to get younger and faster without sacrificing skill, Lambert checks every box.

Among more established options, Alex Tuch of the Buffalo Sabres and Jordan Kyrou of the St. Louis Blues offer intriguing possibilities. Both can address immediate needs while fitting into Toronto’s longer-term window. Tuch brings size, scoring, and two-way responsibility, while Kyrou’s offensive creativity could complement Toronto’s star forwards. Mario Ferraro of the San Jose Sharks would solve Toronto’s desperate need for a mobile, defensively responsible blueliner.

The dream scenario involves prying Steven Stamkos from Nashville, though this represents a high-risk, high-reward gamble. The Predators’ motivation to shed salary could create a buy-low opportunity, but Stamkos’ age and contract structure make this a complicated fit for a team prioritizing youth and speed.

Potential trade partners for roster-for-roster deals

Identifying willing partners represents half the battle in any trade negotiation. Several teams across the league find themselves in situations where roster-for-roster swaps make strategic sense, creating natural alignment with Toronto’s needs.

The Nashville Predators stand out after their disastrous start following last summer’s spending spree. Barry Trotz faces difficult decisions about the team’s direction, potentially making veterans available in roster shakeups. While Ryan O’Reilly seems unrealistic given his connection to former Blues coach Craig Berube, Michael Bunting represents a more plausible target. His familiarity with Auston Matthews from their successful partnership in Toronto makes him an intriguing depth option.

The St. Louis Blues mirror Toronto’s predicament—talented but underperforming, leading to speculation about becoming sellers at the deadline. Brayden Schenn would bring battle-tested experience and faceoff prowess to Toronto’s middle six, while Pius Suter could provide secondary scoring. The real prize would be Colton Parayko, a right-shot defenseman who would instantly stabilize Toronto’s blue line. As one analyst noted, “If he were ever to be made available, there would be at least a dozen teams interested.”

The Vancouver Canucks have actively signaled their willingness to move veterans, making them perhaps Toronto’s most realistic partner. As explored in our breakdown of Canucks trade targets for Toronto, names like Kiefer Sherwood, Jake DeBrusk, and Conor Garland offer various levels of appeal. Sherwood’s versatility and DeBrusk’s scoring touch could address specific deficiencies, while Garland’s contract structure makes him an attractive depth addition.

Beyond these forwards, Vancouver’s depth chart includes players like Lukas Reichel and Drew O’Connor who might thrive with increased opportunity in Toronto. On defense, Tyler Myers and Filip Hronek represent right-shot options who could slot into Toronto’s top four, though Hronek would likely require a significant piece heading back to Vancouver.

The complicated reality of roster-for-roster trades

Despite the logical appeal of exchanging players with similar salaries, executing these trades proves remarkably difficult in practice. The modern NHL landscape features significant obstacles that general managers must navigate, many of which specifically impact Toronto.

No-trade and no-movement clauses complicate matters considerably. Approximately 36 percent of NHL players currently possess some form of trade protection, according to PuckPedia, dramatically shrinking the pool of realistically movable assets. Toronto’s roster features several such contracts, limiting Treliving’s flexibility and requiring him to seek players with similar restrictions—or convincing current Maple Leafs to waive their protection.

The mushy standings further complicate trade dynamics. With so many teams still believing they have playoff hopes thanks to the loser point, sellers remain scarce. Most organizations prefer acquiring futures over roster players, viewing draft picks and prospects as more valuable currency for rebuilds or retools. This sentiment directly conflicts with Toronto’s stated preference for roster-for-roster deals.

Treliving’s position of weakness also cannot be ignored. Shopping players during a career-worst slump eliminates leverage, as potential partners recognize desperation. As one executive told The Athletic, there’s “a fair amount of frustration among executives at how difficult it’s been to make moves,” suggesting the trade market may remain stagnant until closer to the March 6 deadline.

The Rangers’ approach from last season—trading roster players for futures, then flipping those assets for different roster players—might serve as Toronto’s blueprint. This multi-step process requires patience and planning but could yield better results than forcing an imperfect roster-for-roster match. Toronto’s depth, while not featuring elite talent beyond its stars, provides chips to play in such a strategy.

What this means for Toronto’s championship aspirations

The Maple Leafs stand at a crossroads unlike any in the Auston Matthews era. Poor performance has transformed them from contenders into potential sellers, yet their core talent demands at least attempting a turnaround. Roster-for-roster trades offer a middle path—reshuffling the deck without blowing up the foundation.

Success requires Treliving to identify players who have underperformed in their current situations but possess the skill and character to thrive in Toronto’s demanding market. This means targeting professionals with proven track records, youthful players seeking opportunity, and specifically, individuals whose playing styles align with Berube’s system.

The margin for error has vanished. Every move must address specific deficiencies: defensive structure, secondary scoring, or lineup flexibility. Acquiring players like Colton Parayko or Brennan Othmann could solve multiple problems simultaneously, while additions like Michael Bunting or Kiefer Sherwood would provide depth and familiarity.

Ultimately, Toronto’s season hinges on whether Treliving can execute one or more of these targeted moves before the team falls too far behind in the playoff race. The roster-for-roster approach reflects both the constraints of the current NHL trade market and the specific challenges facing a team built to win now but performing like a lottery contender. The next few weeks will determine whether this strategy can salvage Toronto’s season—or if more drastic changes await.