The case for the Toronto Maple Leafs to be buyers at the trade deadline and four potential deals

As the March 6 trade deadline quickly approaches, it is the common belief within the Toronto Maple Leafs’ fan base and media that the team will likely be sellers at the deadline, potentially moving guys like Scott Laughton, Bobby McMann, Oliver Ekman-Larsson or even greater assets, for draft picks and younger prospects. And with the Leafs not currently in a playoff spot and greatly underperforming given the sum of their parts, this may be the best route forward for the organization.

However, there is still an argument to be made that the Leafs’ best route at the deadline may be to become buyers and attempt to make a deal for a big fish to help turn the tide. Toronto is eight points behind the Boston Bruins for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, and with 20 games left, snagging that final playoff spot will be extremely difficult, but not impossible. Additionally, the Leafs have made the playoffs in each of the past nine seasons, and taking apart a team that has been that consistent might be a bit of a waste of riches.

Pelley’s comments

The nine-season run was even referenced by Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment CEO, Keith Pelley, in a letter to season ticket holders.

“This team has made the playoffs nine seasons in a row, the longest streak in the NHL and something to be proud of, but as I have said since joining the organization, our goal is to not just make the playoffs, and we will do whatever is needed for this team to make the next step,” Pelley wrote.

That doesn’t sound like a man who is ready to call the season a failure and move on, and Pelley’s letter really does beg the question of whether the Leafs should choose to bolster what they currently have, rather than stripping down the foundation. With that in mind, we will be taking a look at four potential buyer-type deals that Toronto could make ahead of the March 6 deadline.

Let’s get to it.

Nazem Kadri, C, Calgary Flames

There have been Nazem Kadri trade rumours for a while now, and what better way to tie a bow on that speculation than to have Kadri return to the team where he spent the first 10 years of his career. Indeed, Kadri is now 36 years old, but he is still putting up solid numbers with 12 goals and 41 points in 60 games this season, and he could be a tremendous pickup for the team’s troublesome third-line centre position, or even on the second line as a centre or winger option alongside John Tavares.

For this deal to work for both sides, the Flames will want some young talent and picks as they look to retool with a younger core. Bobby McMann, Nicholas Robertson, a second-round pick and a third-round pick could possibly get the job done, but if the Flames do want more for the former Stanley Cup champion, it may be too much of a risk for the Leafs, given the age of Kadri.

Steven Stamkos, C, Nashville Predators

Remember back in 2016 when Steven Stamkos chose to remain with the Tampa Bay Lightning instead of signing with the Leafs? Well, this trade idea looks to finally bring the GTA-born centre back home, albeit a decade later than expected.

Like with Kadri, Stamkos is now a seasoned 36-year-old NHL veteran, and although he has not seen remotely the same success in Nashville as he did in his double Cup-winning tenure with the Lightning, Stamkos is still a force to be reckoned with on the ice. Although not quite at the same level as his prime years in Tampa Bay, Stamkos currently has 30 goals and 47 points in 61 games, putting him on pace to surpass his point total from 2024–25.

Now, the one big hurdle with a Stamkos trade is that he currently has a full no-move clause in his contract. But if the Predators look to become sellers at the deadline, the team could potentially convince Stamkos to waive that clause. And if that happens, the Leafs could offer Easton Cowan (the Predators will likely want a young piece for the future), Calle Jarnkrok, a first-round pick and a third-round pick for Stamkos, with the Predators retaining 50% of Stamkos’ contract to make the money work. Is this a long shot? Yes. Would it be cool to see Stamkos finally on the Leafs? Also, yes.

Elias Pettersson, C, Vancouver Canucks

Let’s just get this out of the way, out of the potential buyer-style trades we are proposing, this deal provides the greatest risk, but with the potential for the highest reward. Back in 2022–23, Elias Pettersson looked like one of the brighter young stars in the NHL, putting up 102 points in 80 games, but as the years have gone on, and with some team drama behind the scenes, Pettersson has strayed from his elite path, now sitting at just 35 points in 52 games this season.

Pettersson is just one underperforming piece of a Vancouver team that has looked like a shell of their once-contender status selves, and they have already begun selling, trading Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild, and more recently, Tyler Myers to the Dallas Stars on Wednesday. With a trade for Pettersson, the Leafs would be gambling that a change of scenery can help the 27-year-old return to form and become another 100-point scorer for the Leafs.

For this deal, we have the Leafs sending Cowan, Jarnkrok, McMann, Robertson, and a second-round pick. It seems like a lot, but the Canucks will likely want a big return for Pettersson, and if he has a solid turnaround for the Leafs, it may just be worth the cost. However, this trade would come with a high risk, and who is to say the Canucks wouldn’t ask for a more significant package?

Dougie Hamilton, D, New Jersey Devils

Say the Leafs are able to pick up a solid centre or skilled winger at the deadline, well, the next position the team should look for is a top-line defender. While the Leafs do have an already satisfactory group including Morgan Rielly, Chris Tanev and Jake McCabe, the group lacks some depth and scoring, and with Tanev out for the remainder of the season, the team has been in need of a top-dog. Enter Devils D-man Dougie Hamilton.

With the emergence of guys like Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec, Hamilton has been in trade rumours for most of the season, and for good reason. The 32-year-old, though having a down year, has shown flashes of greatness for New Jersey, most notably putting up 74 points in the 2022–23 season. Bringing him onto the Leafs would immediately strengthen their defensive group, and even if his injection isn’t enough to get the Leafs into the post-season this year, he and Tanev will be a scary defensive duo to see in the following years.

In order to snag Hamilton, a potential Leafs offer could include Scott Laughton, McMann, Jarkrok and either a first or second-round draft pick. Depending on how the Leafs want to structure the deal, one of the players listed could also be swapped for Ekman-Larsson, but either way, trading for Hamilton would give the Leafs a scary back end, and if they combined that with a significant acquisition at forward, the team may be able to turn this season around, or at least set themselves up for success as the Auston Matthews era continues in Toronto.