Brad Treliving Urged to Pursue Star Forward Before No-Trade Clause Takes Effect

Kyrou, 27, is set to have his NTC kick in next season with his new contract, setting him up for the start of the year being able to control his future, something that could lead to a team moving quickly to make a deal before he's locked in to block any deal he's dissatisfied with.

NHL Insider Frank Seravalli suggests that a team could be looking into this scenario, and may be planning to leverage a deal for Kyrou before his new contract sets in, giving a franchise who may not be guaranteed Kyrou's services his rights before being shut off.

The Toronto Maple Leafs could be one of the teams that before Kyrou's new deal could make a major move to acquire him beforehand.

The Blues and Leafs had previously spoken to one another at the trade deadline of center Brayden Schenn, who ultimately stayed in St. Louis.

HockeyPatrol understands that the Blues had interest in Leafs 2024 first rounder, defenseman Ben Danford, someone who could be a piece in a potential return for Kyrou.

Toronto could gain cap space if they choose to move on from Mitch Marner in free agency, allowing for the Leafs to open up cap space for Kyrou.

St. Louis could also workshop a sign-and-trade with the Leafs for Marner that includes Kyrou as the return to Toronto, giving the Blues, who are pushing for the playoffs, a 100-point winger, and the Leafs a top-six forward if they can't re-sign Marner and are dissatisfied with their choices of free agent replacement options.

Even with Kyrou's potential NTC, it's unlikely that the Toronto-born Kyrou would have the Leafs on his blocked list, although getting a deal done quickly makes sense if the move includes dealing Marner.

Kyrou can play both as a right winger and center, likely as a potential Leaf to be the replacement for Marner on the right side.

Kyrou had 36 goals and 70 points in 82 games for St. Louis this past season, with three 30+ goal seasons making a possible clash with Auston Matthews on the first line needing a playmaker, in which
Kyrou may move to more of a complimentary role unless Matthews is focusing more on his passing game which he did after his return from injury.

Kyrou doesn't solve Toronto's need for a proven playoff talent with just 13 points in 28 games in his career in the postseason, including just three points in seven games in 2024-25, a bit underwhelming from a top winger and a worrying sign that Kyrou may not be the guy who brings Toronto over the playoff hump.

The Leafs could leapfrog those in the feee agent scramble and swoop in for a talented hometown player with leverage to boost, but will have the challenge of deciding if Jordan Kyrou is the player who can help shuffle the Leafs culture into a winning one, or if he is just another good player without a much needed postseason pedigree.