The Nashville Predators spent big in free agency last offseason. So far, it has not worked out. The team got off to a horrifically slow start, that has led to general manager Barry Trotz hinting on a couple occasions that they may cave extremely quickly on this era and start selling.
Now well over halfway into the season, the Predators still sit near the bottom of the Western Conference and entire NHL, above only the Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks.
Whatever Trotz tried in Nashville has not worked. The team has not gelled, and a retool will be necessary to tweak the build of the lineup and take advantage of some of the prized trade targets in the Predators’ organization.
One possible player who could fall victim to this sudden and abrupt shift for the Predators is defender Luke Schenn. He is no stranger to the Toronto Maple Leafs organization, and he could very well be a prime target for Brad Treliving at the upcoming trade deadline to make his third tour of duty in Toronto.
Luke Schenn profile
Leafs fans are very familiar with Schenn’s history. The fifth overall pick of the 2008 NHL Draft made an immediate impact in the NHL as he played 70 games in his rookie season, averaging over 21 minutes per game. That did not sustain, however, as he fell out of favour with then Maple Leafs coach Ron Wilson and found himself scratched at times in his sophomore season.
He did rebound after that, however, and became a crucial part of Toronto’s defence for the next couple of seasons until his trade to the Philadelphia Flyers after four years with the Maple Leafs.
After spending parts of four seasons with the Flyers, his tenure in Philadelphia ended with a midseason trade to the Los Angeles Kings in the 2015–16 season. Since then, Schenn has bounced around the league and spent time with the Arizona Coyotes, Anaheim Ducks, Vancouver Canucks (twice), Tampa Bay Lightning, where he won two Stanley Cups, and the Nashville Predators. Notably, he briefly made a return to Toronto as well in the 2022–23 season.
Schenn is a prototypical stay-at-home defender. He is defensively sound, reliable, and physical. Often times, he is near the league lead in hits. At one point, there were concerns that he was playing himself out of the league as the position changed and he was at risk of being left behind. But to his credit, Schenn reinvented his game and established a role for himself in countless organizations.
Is it time to bring Luke Schenn back to Toronto again?
Schenn was a beloved member of the organization and fans were ecstatic when he made a brief appearance a few seasons ago. The time is right for him to come back for a third time.
In his second stint, Schenn lined up most often with Morgan Rielly. Rielly, in this period of time, played some of the best hockey of his career. They are a near-perfect pairing for each other, complimenting each other’s styles incredibly well.
Rielly’s free-flowing offensive instincts can be best utilized with a shutdown, physical defender like Schenn to stand guard. Even if Schenn is getting older and may be at risk of being hit by the age regression curve, he has shown the ability to adapt in the past.
Doing this would also allow them to keep Jake McCabe paired up with Chris Tanev, who have combined to be one of the best shutdown pairings in the league. With a top-four defence made up of Rielly-Schenn and McCabe-Tanev, the Leafs immediately become far more competitive in what could be a difficult Eastern Conference.
Playoff tested
Heading into the playoffs, it is also important to consider the playoff hockey mindset. Schenn embodies this. He would immediately be by far the team leader in hits, with 187 in 52 games. Currently, the team leader for Toronto is Steven Lorentz with 133.
As he showed in his second stint in Toronto, he is not afraid to drop the gloves either, if we can recall his fight with Tanner Jeannot in a series against his former team, the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Of the available defenders on the market, Schenn is also one of the more cost-effective options. At just $2.75M AAV for this season and next, the Maple Leafs would have very little trouble fitting him in. For this season, it would likely require moving or sending someone like Connor Timmins in return to make the roster and cap space work.
Toronto almost always seems to make a trade deadline move for a defender. Luke Schenn can and should be this season’s acquisition. A reunion would bring amazing energy around the team, organization, and fanbase. His playstyle fits what the Maple Leafs could use heading into the playoffs. And we’ve already seen what he can do playing beside Rielly.
It almost seems to good to be true, but the fit is perfect. Bring Schenn back home, Brad.
For a 3rd rd pick I’d do it. Put him with Rielly as they had good chemistry last time around.