The Toronto Maple Leafs have a much better idea of what top-six help is going to cost after Luke Evangelista's trade to the New Jersey Devils.
The New Jersey Devils ended up shoring up their top-six in a big way ahead of the 2026-27 regular season when they acquired young forward Luke Evangelista from the Nashville Predators in exchange for a conditional 2028 first-round pick (COL) and New Jersey's 2028 second-round pick.
It was a move that made the Devils a bit younger while also adding one of the brighter young forwards in the NHL who is just coming off a breakout season where he had a career-high 56 points in 81 games for the Predators in 2025-26.
The Evangelista return gives Toronto a real benchmark for young scoring help
But it also gives other teams a much clearer idea of what it's going to cost in order to add a young top-six forward - with the Maple Leafs keeping a close eye on how things turned out.
With Toronto needing a final top-six piece who has offensive upside, youth, and control we know it's going to cost them at least two top-tier picks in order to get it done. Evangelista is only 24, had a career year, and is someone poised to be a top-six staple in New Jersey for years to come.
Toronto would love someone like that, but with only their 2027 first (COL) and two 2027 second-rounders they are going to need to make sure that whoever they spend on is worth it. John Chayka has done a good job at managing prime assets, so he would be getting rid of some of his last bargaining chips for the next three years.
Toronto may have to choose between protecting its future and fixing the top six now
The Maple Leafs have a benchmark for what it's going to cost to add someone like Evangelista, the issue becomes not that they don't have the assets - but whether the team is willing to part with what little they have left.
Right now, the Maple Leafs top-six is missing that one final piece that can round out the lineup and add a bit more offensive bite. If they want to be competitive immediately, it may be in their best interest to see what's available.
Though, as we saw with Eeli Tolvanen, you don't have to spend much - but with Patrik Laine's interest as well, there could be a world where Toronto gets that help without needing to give up their future.
With questions about the future of the core group, the Maple Leafs could always better their future prospects by keeping their assets and using them to either make a bigger splash for a player down the line, or use those picks to build a new core around Gavin McKenna.
John Chayka doesn't need to rush to make that decision now, but it is something he needs to weigh as the season goes on. If Toronto continues to lack that final piece, then we could see the team push their chips all-in hoping to win within the next two years.
Do you think the Maple Leafs should trade their last few draft picks for top-six help?
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