The Blues May Hold the Key to the Next Big Shake-Up the Maple Leafs Can't Ignore
Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
According to RG.org's Marco D'Amico, the St. Louis Blues hold a coveted piece in Brayden Schenn, and the Maple Leafs need to make sure they keep their options open as the trade market starts to heat up.
There were discussions last season about who the Toronto Maple Leafs would bring in as their final piece of the puzzle to get past their playoff woes and finally get to the Stanley Cup.
They opted for Scott Laughton and Brandon Carlo in separate deals, and while the jury is still out on whether or not they are truly impactful, they were solid pieces that do help the team overall, even if they aren't flashy.
But they were linked to names such as Nazem Kadri and Brayden Schenn among others, and though nothing materialized, one has to wonder whether or not that would have been the help Toronto really needed.
2025 hasn't been too kind to them, and if they really want to make a push they need to improve the top-six in a big way.
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Which is why it's perfect coincidence they might be able to bring someone in who not only has the playoff pedigree and experience to help, but one with a very close relationship to head coach Craig Berube.
According to RG.org's Marco D'Amico, teams are keeping a close eye on Brayden Schenn as they gauge where his future lies, as well as dangling some other highly coveted pieces:
Schenn's leadership and playoff experience make him a highly coveted piece for contenders, while speculation around Kyrou or Thomas would ignite league-wide frenzy. For now, St. Louis remains the team everyone is watching.
Right now, the Blues are last in the Central Division with a 3-7-2 record and don't seem to have a clear direction out of their slump. If they continue this path it'll mean they are going to miss the postseason and for a veteran like Schenn; that's a huge disappointment.
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That's got to make Brad Treliving's ears perk up a bit as he has a chance to bring in a player who has winning credentials and fits seamlessly into the coaching scheme.
Schenn, 34, has five points in 12 games this season, but has been very reliable for his career with 690 points in 1,034 games (280 goals, 410 assists) with an additional 43 points in 82 playoff games.
But if they were to deal him elsewhere, that means that Toronto is going to have to try and find a center who can not only play defense responsibly, but also add a good 30-40 points for the team.
Is that feasible without stripping away parts of the roster? Potentially, but it would involve them mortgaging their future again through their last first round pick or a high-end prospect.
But in this dog eat dog world of the NHL, the Maple Leafs are going to have to sacrifice their youth if they want to truly win now.
Regardless of what happens with Schenn, Toronto now has to narrow their focus down and make sure that whoever they add is going to help and not be a burden as we've seen so many times before.
| POLL | ||
NOVEMBRE 2|1120 ANSWERS The Blues May Hold the Key to the Next Big Shake-Up the Maple Leafs Can't Ignore Can Toronto persuade Brayden Schenn to come over to the Maple Leafs? | ||
| Yes | 459 | 41 % |
| No | 661 | 59 % |
| List of polls | ||