The Two Trades That Could Finally Put the Leafs Over the Top

Given how quickly the trade deadline is approaching, Brad Treliving and the Maple Leafs are expected to be big time players in order to add the necessary pieces to a team desperate for playoff success.

But if they really wanted to make the best possible moves, it involves making two trades and grabbing a pair of brothers to help them out; more specifically Luke Schenn and Brayden Schenn.

While each brother offers something very different, no doubt would they bring exactly what the Maple Leafs need though it's going to come at a fairly expensive cost.

The last name Schenn should be known to most Leafs fans over the past decade and a half. Luke was drafted 5th overall by Toronto in 2008 and spent five years with the team.

Brayden however while he hasn't played for Toronto, does have history with current Leafs coach Craig Berube as the two won a Stanley Cup together in 2018-19.

In terms of what the brothers can fix, it's quite a lot for two players. Brayden would provide Toronto a better 2C option than John Tavares while offering solid offensive numbers, elite defense, a winning resume, and familiarity with Berube's system.

This season, Schenn (Brayden) has 11 goals and 21 assists in 56 games while winning 50.1% of his face-offs and adding 132 hits.

But where he shines is his playoff experience; beyond winning a Cup, he has been a solid contributor with 40 points in 75 games and would give Toronto another Cup winner on their roster besides the three Florida Panthers players (Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Anthony Stolarz, and Steven Lorentz).

The issue would be cost with Schenn, and while his contract won't be too bad given the increased salary cap, and it only being $6.5M, the price to acquire him is going to hurt.

You need to include Easton Cowan and the 2026 1st rounder among other pieces, and it's a lot to pay for yet another middle-aged veteran who will be 36 when all is said and done.

Is that too much to pay for Schenn? Yes and no. While having Cowan and the picks and other assets would be great, the window to win is closing and Toronto needs to go all-in.

Luke on the other hand would be coming back to the team for a third time. He was acquired in 2022-23 to help Morgan Rielly on defense and he should be called upon again to do the same thing this season.

You know what you're getting with Schenn. Lots of hits, lots of blocks, and a tenacious and fearless attitude.

In 54 games he has one goal and three assists, but adds 69 blocks and 200 hits as well.

Him and Rielly were good before, and Schenn was a part of a Leafs team that made it past the first round for the first time in nearly 20 years.

Some people would say you're a bit crazy for running it back with Schenn, but giving him a chance to play with his brother, for a chance to win with the biggest team in the league toward the end of his career? Small price to pay.

Speaking of price, he won't cost nearly as much as his brother and giving Nashville the 2025 2nd Rounder belonging to Florida plus a couple of other prospects should be enough to bring him in.

Here's how the team could potentially look with the brothers added into the lineup:

Forwards:

Knies - Matthews - Domi

Nylander - Schenn - Marner

McMann - Tavares - Jarnkrok

Pacioretty - Kampf - Lorentz

Defense:

McCabe - Tanev

Rielly - Schenn

Benoit - Ekman-Larsson

You give Schenn the ability to play scorer, playmaker, and defender while giving Nylander and Marner a chance to work their magic (and keeps Marner away from Auston Matthews).

Tavares heads to the third line and adds an offensive punch there while giving him a bit less responsibility and split up the possession heavy trio of Marner, Nylander and Tavares.

Schenn and Rielly sit on pair two on defense as McCabe and Tanev are the for sure #1 pairing.

Which is perfect for Schenn and Rielly; Rielly can work the offense against slightly weaker lines, and Schenn can help shutdown any potential chances from teams' second and third units.

It's going to cost the team a lot in terms of assets and money at the end of the day (though an increased salary cap helps) but for the chance to end a 55+ year Stanley Cup drought is worth it.

While they won't be the easiest moves for the Maple Leafs to make, it's the ones necessary to give them the best chance at winning it all.