Why the Maple Leafs Could Be Forced Into a Surprising Trade

The current Leafs forward situation still needs to be decided upon, leaving Toronto with a clear question over who will gain the very few remaining roster spots.

With more than 12 NHL caliber talents, the Leafs face the question if they can find a trade, but also have the risk of waivers meaning a trade is not just help for Toronto, but potentially necessary.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have more NHL roster talents than they have available lineup space, and that creates a challenge in who stays and who goes, and who gets those few available spots.

Easton Cowan has shaken off a slow start in the rookie camp to showcase a more consistent performance in the preseason, giving him a bigger shot at an NHL roster spot, further complicating things in terms of the established veterans.

The Leafs top prospect and 2023 28th overall pick is a former CHL MVP and Memorial Cup champion, and had 69 points in 46 games last season with London, and looks poised to make the NHL jump.

Cowan does have the benefit of being able to go down to the AHL without waivers, but if he makes the team that Leafs with concerns over who instead is left off the roster if Cowan starts the season in Toronto.

It would be the likely scenario that if Cowan makes the Leafs that he doesn't do so right away, having a player available for trade in the lineup as Toronto seeks a deal for one of their forwards off the roster.

Either way, Toronto could very well part with at least one forward in their roster regardless if they're adamant about finding a deal before having to decide potential waiver options, but that is still something the Leafs have a bit of time to decide on.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have some clear names that could be shown the exit if the team decides to move on from a few of their depth forwards.

The most discussed name in recent days has been Calle Jarnkrok, with reports having recently mentioned that the Leafs have been trying to offload Jarnkrok, although have not found the right trade partner.

Jarnkrok is a player who, if he goes to waivers, could get claimed being on the final year of a four-year deal at $2.1M, although injuries have been a question mark for the 34-year-old.

The Leafs have also been linked to potential deals involving forwards David Kampf, 30, and Nick Robertson, 24, two players who are also 50/50 to make the roster and could find their way out of Toronto.

Robertson is on a one-year deal at $1.825M, with Kampf having two-years left at $2.4M. Robertson being younger and with a cheaper salary is valuable, but so is Kampf who has term.

Kampf is a fourth-line center who has had his role made redundant with Nicolas Roy and Scott Laughton in the bottom-six, and Nick Robertson has been a high offensive player who hasn't been able to hold up a proper full-time roster spot with the Leafs.

There's no current trade at this time, but the Leafs seemed poised to be moving towards a potential deal, but if not risk losing solid NHL players for nothing.