Offseason Trades May Force Maple Leafs to Gamble on Former 40-Goal Scorer
Photo credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
With a lack of assets available and a trade harder to come by, the Maple Leafs might need to take a risk on Jeff Skinner, who has been shown to still have it per one analyst on social media.
Though the team has done a fair job during free agency so far, their biggest signing would be that of Michael Pezzetta, who is expected to come in to replace Ryan Reaves but add just a bit more offensive upside.
Other than that though, they've been fairly quiet and only made a handful of depth signings to shore up their AHL roster. We've heard a lot of talk about Toronto scouring the trade market for a potential top-six forward, though with a lack of assets that's going to be tough.
They are still linked to some names like Jack Roslovic, who would give the team a solid offensive punch at a minimal cost and has experience playing playing with Auston Matthews.
Jeff Skinner remarkably a free agent still
But another player who could offer the same offensive flair at the same cost with a ton of experience is Jeff Skinner, who still remains unsigned. According to user JFresh on X; an Elite Prospects analyst and writer, Skinner's been one of the better low-end forwards in the league.
You aren't going to get a lot of defense from Skinner, but what you will get is a 15-year veteran with 373 career goals with six 30+ goal seasons including a 40-goal campaign in 2018-19 with Buffalo.
Signed last summer, Skinner didn't disappoint in a fourth-line role for the Oilers, scoring 29 points in 72 games (16 goals, 13 assists) and finally got the chance to play in the postseason in 2024-25; a record 1,078 game drought.
But with a new shift in mentality in Toronto, and a much heavier emphasis on defense, it's a blessing and curse to bring in Skinner.
No, he's not a Selke candidate by any stretch, but if given players like Nicolas Roy, Scott Laughton, or John Tavares; that can cover for his defensive shortcomings.
He is 33, and there is already the issue of Toronto having an aging roster, but adding him on the cheap ($2-3 million) even for a year is a great stopgap option for Brad Treliving while he figures out how to tackle the insanely talented 2026 class of free agents.
Plus, he would get another chance to play in the playoffs, and could be a dark horse to break out if given enough chances.
So time is ticking for the Maple Leafs, but they can buy themselves some time, and a great veteran, by investing in Jeff Skinner.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 8 | 3091 ANSWERS Offseason Trades May Force Maple Leafs to Gamble on Former 40-Goal Scorer Do you think the Maple Leafs should try and sign Jeff Skinner? | ||
| Yes | 871 | 28.2 % |
| No | 2220 | 71.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
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