Two Maple Leafs rivals are circling players Toronto has had its eye on

Both the Florida Panthers and Buffalo Sabres are trying to acquire Connor Hellebuyck and Vincent Trocheck respectively and could leave Toronto high and dry.

Suffice to say, both the Sabres and Panthers have been very busy so far this offseason with Buffalo just acquiring the fourth overall pick among other things for a package centred around Bowen Byram, and Florida just went out and nabbed Brady Tkachuk to give them even more firepower.

Both of those players are going to no doubt help their respective lineups but not only that, but it also gives the Maple Leafs a headache when it comes to being competitive as two key rivals could very well boost their chances of reaching the postseason - and could use both pieces pretty badly.

David Pagnotta reports that the Buffalo Sabres are working on a potential deal involving Trocheck, and the Florida Panthers continue to kick tires on Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck:

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Buffalo is reportedly in on Vincent Trocheck as talks pick up

The Sabres are certainly making a lot of changes going into the 2026-27 season and it's clear Jarmo Kekkelainen isn't shy about making serious moves. Getting rid of Byram and Tuch leaves the team without a top winger and a top-four offensive blueliner, but it also could lead the way for Trocheck.

The two-way forward is someone who would add not only a consistent offensive punch to the lineup but immediately improve the Sabres' defence up the middle. Right now, the team is in need of a true 1/2C and Trocheck fits the bill.

We could see Buffalo trade their 20th overall pick they got in the Michael Kesselring deal, or they could even do a swap with the Rangers and give them the fourth pick they just acquired and perhaps pick up another piece or two on top of that.

Trocheck in Buffalo takes out one of Toronto's top targets and someone who can replace John Tavares up the middle and give Auston Matthews a huge helping hand on the PK and help him focus more offensively.

While there is nothing imminent happening, where there's smoke there's clearly been some fire this summer and it's feeling like a matter of when, not if, Trocheck is dealt away.

Florida has circled back on Connor Hellebuyck and the goalie market is heating up

Now we get to the more aggravating part of Pagnotta's report. Bill Zito is starting to really toe the line between savvy GM and evil mastermind. He just acquired Tkachuk and already has an incredibly potent lineup.

But he is going to miss Sergei Bobrovsky if they can't come to a resolution and at that point he's going to take the biggest fish in the pond which is no doubt Hellebuyck - a three-time Vezina winner.

Them adding one of the best goaltenders in the world and one of the close friends of several players already on the roster is only going to give Florida even more of a chance of making the Cup Final and winning yet again despite the NHL's attempts to create parity.

Toronto has also been kicking tires on Hellebuyck but they have also done their homework on Bobrovsky, so they too could come in and steal their former goalie away as a great deterrent to the Panthers powerhouse group.

Not to mention Toronto may still be trading a goalie or two elsewhere and suddenly there's a place for Bobrovsky or Hellebuyck as Florida decides between them.

Toronto's rivals are about to get a lot tougher if these go through, and Toronto should look to fight fire with fire.

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