Insider Darren Dreger Links the Maple Leafs to Two Prominent Names

With the Toronto Maple Leafs looking to make a big splash ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline, it's not surprising to see the rumors come fast and furious when it comes to who exactly GM Brad Treliving is going to bring in.

But NHL Insider Darren Dreger is putting his namesake to the test, as the latest inside scoop is the team is going after one of two prominent names: Brayden Schenn and Scott Laughton.

Dreger names the two as the best potential fits for the Maple Leafs, with Schenn fetching much more of a trade package, and Laughton being able to be acquired for a premium pick.

Former teammates in Philadelphia, both Schenn and Laughton would no doubt improve the Maple Leafs albeit in slightly different ways.

Schenn is the bigger name of the two, and fits Toronto perfectly as not only does he have the offensive reliability the team is looking for, but the fact he's already won with Craig Berube once is a huge leg up.

While he doesn't necessarily have the same numbers as he used to, and is already 33, Schenn could give Toronto a three-headed monster of Auston Matthews, Schenn, and John Tavares.

This season, Schenn has 12 goals and 21 assists in 58 games for St. Louis while adding 147 hits and winning 50.3% of his face-offs.

The cost to acquire him is going to be the issue, as Easton Cowan, Fraser Minten, and Ben Danford are all potential pieces to go together or separately for a package involving Schenn.

It's a lot to pay, but with Toronto needing to get a premium 2C with control; it's the heavy price to pay.

Laughton would be a cheaper option although still going to cost a premium draft pick at least.

More of a gritty and quieter offensive contributor, you get reliability, penalty killing, toughness, and defense.

Laughton, 30, has 11 goals and 16 assists in 55 games for Philadelphia while adding 115 hits and winning 48.7% of his face-offs; a slight decrease from Schenn.

He doesn't have the connection to Craig Berube as his former teammate does, but he is a local boy from Oakville who would love nothing more to win with his hometown team.

If it only costs the team either their 2026 first-rounder or 2025 second and third rounders, then pay that amount. It's a small price to pay for a team who won't need to think about picks for another couple of years, and it's win-now mode.

Toronto can't go wrong with either player, and it mainly depends on how much the team wants to pay to win.

But if Brad Treliving can secure one or potentially both players?

That makes their Stanley Cup dreams so much closer to reality.