Insider Reveals What the Maple Leafs Want in Return for Their Forwards
Photo credit: Hockey Patrol
A new report from insider Dave Pagnotta outlines what the Toronto Maple Leafs are looking to get for their veteran roster cuts.
Three Toronto Maple Leafs forwards expected to not make the Leafs opening night lineup, Calle Jarnkrok, David Kampf, and Nick Robertson, are all three players being forwards with NHL experience, and could find themselves claimed off waivers.
One of the three could find themselves as the team's healthy scratch, but at least one, if not two, are likely to be outside of the roster and requiring waivers with the hopes of sending them down to the Marlies.
The challenge for Toronto is they have two potential bottom-six NHLers in Kampf and Jarnkrok, the latter is looking for a rebound season following injuries, and a young forward with upside in Robertson who could break out if a team gives him a larger opportunity, both cases being players you don't want to give away for free.
Wishing to avoid getting to the point where the Leafs may lose any of those players for nothing if they don't make it through the waiver system, new reporting gives details into what Toronto would hope to get as the season nears and the cuts have to be made.
Dave Pagnotta Explains Maple Leafs Trade Strategy Moving Forward
The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta has new insight into the Toronto Maple Leafs plans on their depth forwards, and what Toronto is looking for on the trade market for their outsiders.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are once again dangling some of their depth forwards and have spoken with some teams about the likes of Calle Jarnkrok, David Kampf and Nick Robertson, according to separate sources.
The Leafs are believed to be looking for draft pick compensation in exchange for any of their available forwards, which may extend beyond the three already mentioned above.
The Leafs are believed to be looking for draft pick compensation in exchange for any of their available forwards, which may extend beyond the three already mentioned above.
The first bit of information has been well known for a while both who was on the outside of the Leafs roster, as well as the team looking for a trade.
However, this is the first indication of what Toronto is looking to net from their players, and gives a hint at what the Leafs are working towards and are positioning themselves to get with their roster seemingly set.
The Maple Leafs seem focused on being able to add draft picks to their cabinet, and the goal seems to offload their spare depth and turn that into helpful assets for the team's future.
Why Draft Picks Have Become the Priority in Toronto's Trade Talks
Toronto's draft future is in need of a deep upgrade with just three picks in the upcoming 2026 draft, with their first pick being in round 3, as well as no first round pick until 2028, making any addition that helps their long-term a plus.
While Toronto's focus is on now, anything they can get for players who are risked of potentially going on waivers for nothing is a help, and picks are the likeliest area to net a return, and one that gives some help to the Leafs in one area of need.
In their focus on success, Toronto has lacked adding top prospects and have used many of their draft picks on project players with a lower upside and more development space needed.
That makes them a team that has put more into depth rather than drafting potential top-end players, and while it helps add potential NHLers, it hasn't been the flashiest method so far.
Getting more draft picks for the Leafs helps a clear need to add to the team's future, and help the team be more secure in the years ahead, as every pick can matter with the recently highest paid NHLer Kirill Kaprizov having been a fifth founder.
For players at risk of going out in Toronto's roster, a return may help them in the long-term if it means getting anything for forwards over losing them for nothing after.
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