Stanley Cup champion linked to the Toronto Maple Leafs
Photo credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
According to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun, the Toronto Maple Leafs could still find themselves a critical piece to the lineup if they acquire Jonathan Marchesssault.
Even though the Toronto Maple Leafs are struggling this season, they haven't given up just yet and aren't waving the white flag just yet. They did let Marc Savard go, but it seems that's the only big change so far, with some more on the horizon if they don't pick things up.
But if things stay steady, then the team should be able to compete for a playoff spot and in order to get there, they may need a bit more firepower to push them over the top.
Jonathan Marchessault a Maple Leaf? One insider believes it's very possible
Linked to several names, one that keeps popping up is Nashville's Jonathan Marchessault and a new report from Pierre LeBrun confirms it's a spot that could work very well for both parties.
In a new article for The Athletic, LeBrun along with Chris Johnston discussed potential trade options heading into 2026, and when Marchessault came up it seems like LeBrun favored the Maple Leafs as a destination:
One can argue the last thing the struggling Leafs need is another aging player. But hear me out. The Leafs don't have many assets to trade. For the Predators, this would be more about moving the remainder of the contract; three more seasons after this one at a $5.5 million cap hit.
The Leafs would still have to trade assets, but it wouldn't be as costly as other trade targets they've looked at.
Marchessault, 34, would have to consent via his full no-movement clause, but I wouldn't be surprised if he would consider the Leafs, where he would get a top-six role skating alongside either Auston Matthews or John Tavares.
Again, I can see how some Leafs fans just want the whole thing rebuilt now and no more trades for veterans. But with the team not having its first-round picks in 2026 or 2027, and the standings still very tight, general manager Brad Treliving isn't ready to wave the white flag just yet.
The Leafs would still have to trade assets, but it wouldn't be as costly as other trade targets they've looked at.
Marchessault, 34, would have to consent via his full no-movement clause, but I wouldn't be surprised if he would consider the Leafs, where he would get a top-six role skating alongside either Auston Matthews or John Tavares.
Again, I can see how some Leafs fans just want the whole thing rebuilt now and no more trades for veterans. But with the team not having its first-round picks in 2026 or 2027, and the standings still very tight, general manager Brad Treliving isn't ready to wave the white flag just yet.
It's certainly not a bad idea, though some fans would be quick to ask why the team is adding another mid-30's player to a roster already slow and older than the rest of the league.
Marchessault has struggled this season with only 10 points in 28 games (7 goals, 3 assists) but 553 points in 744 games and has hit double digit goals in nine straight seasons, only dipping under 20 goals once in that span.
With that said, could the Maple Leafs actually swing a deal for Marchessault?
What could Jonathan Marchessault cost the Maple Leafs?
It wouldn't cost the likes of a prospect like Ben Danford or Easton Cowan so that's a plus. The team can't really get him through draft picks alone either, so it'll need to be a combo of picks and players.
With Toronto unsure about where Matias Maccelli really fits, and if they keep running with Max Domi instead, then he could be a player going the other way. He's an RFA so Nashville doesn't need to commit, and it gives him more playing time.
If Toronto were to dish off Maccelli and their 2026 5th-round pick, then it could be enough to sway GM Barry Trotz to part ways with Marchessault and his $5.5-million contract.
Maccelli makes less money, is a decade younger, and has shown glimpses of being able to be a 50+ point player. If Nashville is really set on rebuilding in the near future, he'd be a great part of that.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 26 | 1520 ANSWERS Stanley Cup champion linked to the Toronto Maple Leafs Do you think the Maple Leafs should trade for Jonathan Marchessault? | ||
| Yes | 648 | 42.6 % |
| No | 872 | 57.4 % |
| List of polls | ||