Leafs insider Jonas Siegel proposed the idea of trading the first overall pick to the Blue Jackets for Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski to fix their blueline woes.
Zach Werenski just won the Norris Trophy and put together a 22-goal, 81-point campaign in 2025-26. He's also only got a couple years left on his deal and is going to make bank on his next deal. Jonas Siegel believes that leaves the door open for Toronto to trade their first overall pick for him and completely transform their defence.
Werenski beat out Cale Makar for the Norris Trophy in 2025-26 and he absolutely earned it. Always been the bridesmaid, never the bride; he's constantly in the mix, he finally secured his first despite putting in an even better season in 2024-25.
He's the perfect mix of size, speed, offensive and defensive talent - and firmly in his prime.
Jonas Siegel proposes the idea that Toronto uses their first overall pick to acquire Zach Werenski
He's one of the best defenceman in the world and just also added a gold medal to his trophy case in 2025-26, and would be a perfect player to transform the Maple Leafs blueliner; at least according to Jonas Siegel.
Siegel wrote an article for The Athletic that touched on the Matthew Knies trade situation, and with that he proposed that perhaps Toronto would trade Knies for Werenski, however he also proposed the idea that Toronto parts with their coveted first overall pick in order to make their defence finally solid:
If the Columbus Blue Jackets were concerned at all about Werenski's willingness to stick around beyond the two years remaining on his contract, would they consider a deal with Knies as the headliner? (Or what about using the No. 1 overall pick instead in a deal for Werenski? Would the Leafs consider that, even if Werenski indicated a long-term desire to play in Toronto?)
If Werenski were to sign a long-term extension in Toronto it would solidify them at the back for years to come and provide an exceptional offensive option for stars like Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Matthew Knies and Easton Cowan.
But you're also giving up the chance to draft a generational talent like Gavin McKenna, and the fact that he can give you much more than just on-ice potential is almost too much to pass up.
A Norris Trophy winner is exactly the defenceman Toronto has needed for years
Though you really have to look at the optics. Toronto has been begging for a proper offensive defender for the past eight years. Despite one solid season from Morgan Rielly, they haven't had anyone who can step up like Werenski can.
Over the past three seasons, Werenski has 220 points in 226 games (56 goals, 164 assists) while also adding 58 power-play points and 355 blocks. He has fantastic possession numbers for a defenceman and isn't a liability on defence like Rielly is.
He's also someone who doesn't take a lot of penalties and is incredibly disciplined, which is exactly what Toronto needs as well. They had 253 PIM from blueliners last year and Werenski has 164 PIM for his entire career; he will settle things down.
Werenski as the QB1 on the power-play as well would finally give Toronto the edge they've been missing since the Tomas Kaberle and Bryan McCabe days. They need a killer instinct at the back and Werenski brings it in spades.
Yes you do need to make sure he gets extended, and he's no doubt going to make more than his $9.6-million AAV currently being paid to him. Werenski would likely command $12-million per season for the next five or six years which is a huge commitment - but he helps you win now and later.
That's a tough sell especially since the team is still figuring out how to get Morgan Rielly's deal off their books and another long-term deal may make fans cringe a bit.
But unlike Rielly, Werenski is a player who can absolutely change the game at both ends of the ice and is a proven winner and leader. If Toronto is trying to become competitive now? Maybe it's time to think about adding one of the highest level competitors in the game.
Should Toronto trade the chance at Gavin McKenna for the immediate help of Zach Werenski?
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