Two Maple Leafs Forwards Emerging as 2-for-1 Trade Chips to Unlock Top-Six Upgrade

The Toronto Maple Leafs have a clear forward logjam and will still have to make moves to be roster compliant, and this could present the potential of a trade done to get Toronto an improvement in their top-six.

Toronto had not gotten the top-six replacement for Mitch Marner that they had hoped for, but they did sign Matias Maccelli, but on the left wing, they don't have much promise beyond Matthew Knies, presenting a clear upgrade could be had on both sides of the wing.

The Leafs pressing need to add a quality winger could open up for a bargain bin deal for a top-six forward, with a potential return of Bobby McMann, Calle Jarnkrok, and a pick.

Toronto doesn't have a first rounder until 2028, making their prospects less appealing, but could still catch a solid second line winger with this return, and there's clear reason as to why.

Bobby McMann and Calle Järnkrok have clear value that could make both of them intriguing options for a team who are willing to part with a top-six forward while still getting NHL talent back.

Järnkrok was limited to just 17 games, but has shown that he is able to produce in an NHL bottom-six, and is a versatile forward who can play both as a center and on the wing.

In three seasons for Toronto, Jarnkrok has proven he can be a reliable forward who can do a few things for a team beyond just offense, which would be valuable for a team that needs both offensive depth, as well as a player who can contribute on defense.

Jarnkrok, along with David Kampf, have been linked to trade discussions, but is not guaranteed to leave.

Bobby McMann has been a true late bloomer. Going from undrafted and having played Jr. A hockey to making his NHL debut at the age of 26 to become a 20-goal scorer for the Leafs.

Having played on the Leafs top-six this past season, McMann could make a team giving up their own top-six asset to insert McMann into the lineup as a possibility that could make sense, unless Toronto trusts him enough as that guy.

Bobby McMann has shown that he can provide offense as a key forward in the Leafs top-six, having displaced Max Domi at that spot on the left wing. But can he keep it?

McMann isn't the typical top-six winger, and Toronto could always find an upgrade that puts McMann back on the bottom-six, which could be a better scenario for the Leafs having struggled with scoring from their depth group.

In the scenario that McMann is moved out, it could lead to perhaps Max Domi instead as a player who is traded in order to put McMann on the third line.

Domi's contract at $3.75M is something the Leafs would rather take off the books than McMann at $1.35M, especially if neither separate themselves.

Toronto could ultimately keep McMann and trade Domi, but his contract may make a deal less valuable, where McMann's team-friendly contract may appeal to prospective suitors, which could present a much more positive trade on Toronto's end for an upgrade.