It’s been considerably of a depressing first three months of the 2025-26 season for the Toronto Maple Leafs. A poor begin, accidents, and underwhelming performances from their stars have all contributed to a 15-14-5 file by 34 video games, leaving them only one level above the basement of the Japanese Convention standings.
Whereas there’s nonetheless loads of season left, the variety of groups separating the Leafs from a playoff spot has many believing it might already be time to unload items and retool for subsequent 12 months. That line of considering is comprehensible, however common supervisor Brad Treliving isn’t able to go there simply but. As a substitute, he continues to function as a purchaser on the commerce market in hopes of steering his group again into competition.
Consequently, the Maple Leafs wish to remedy a number of wants, with a kind of being a top-six ahead able to enjoying alongside Auston Matthews. Life after Mitch Marner hasn’t been straightforward for the captain, whose play and manufacturing have fallen wanting expectations this season, so including a high-end winger—ideally with playmaking skills—is a big-time precedence to assist get him and the group going.
With that in thoughts, TSN insider Pierre LeBrun floated Jonathan Marchessault as a possible match for Toronto in a current commerce matchmaker piece for The Athletic.
“One can argue the very last thing the struggling Leafs want is one other getting older participant. However hear me out. The Leafs don’t have many belongings to commerce. For the Predators, this is able to be extra about transferring the rest of the contract — three extra seasons after this one at a $5.5 million cap hit. The Leafs would nonetheless need to commerce belongings, however it wouldn’t be as expensive as different commerce targets they’ve checked out… Once more, I can see how some Leafs followers simply need the entire thing rebuilt now and no extra trades for veterans. However with the group not having its first-round picks in 2026 or 2027, and the standings nonetheless very tight, common supervisor Brad Treliving isn’t able to wave the white flag simply but,”
The 34-year-old Marchessault is in 12 months two of the five-year, $27.5 million contract he signed to affix the Predators as a UFA in 2024. He’s been held to only 10 factors (seven objectives, three assists) in 28 video games performed this season, showing to be in want of a change of surroundings.
Is Jonathan Marchessault What Toronto Wants?
Whereas Marchessault’s expertise, expertise, and confirmed skill to ship in huge moments are undeniably intriguing, he could not make quite a lot of sense for the Maple Leafs.
Toronto has already appeared previous and gradual at occasions this season, so including one other getting older ahead who’s not fleet of foot at this stage of his profession doesn’t determine to handle that subject. If something, it dangers compounding it.
Matthews, specifically, has performed at a noticeably slower tempo this 12 months, making it extra logical for the Leafs to prioritize a youthful, playmaking winger who might help push the tempo on the highest line — even when that’s far simpler stated than carried out.
As LeBrun famous, the acquisition price for Marchessault may fall extra comfortably inside Treliving’s restricted asset pool, given their lack of picks and top-end prospects. Nonetheless, at this level, it will seem wiser for Toronto to exhaust different choices in the marketplace earlier than committing to a transfer for Marchessault.
Subsequent: Analyst Calls Out Auston Matthews as Maple Leafs’ Largest Difficulty
