The Toronto Maple Leafs still have a need for another top-six forward, but they could look to address that at the NHL Trade Deadline.
The Maple Leafs could look to upgrade at left-wing as Bobby McMann projects to be the second-line left-winger. With that, NHL insider and analyst Lyle Richardson of Bleacher Report predicts the Maple Leafs will trade for New York Islanders captain Anders Lee at the trade deadline.
“If the Isles are out of playoff contention by the March trade deadline, they could peddle the 35-year-old left winger,” Richardson wrote. “The 6-foot-3, 231-pound Lee is a big net-front presence. In his 13-year NHL career, he’s reached or exceeded 20 goals nine times, including a 29-goal performance in 2024-25 on an offensively anaemic Islanders team. He could become a player of interest for the Leafs as they attempt to end their Stanley Cup drought.
“The Leafs could afford to acquire Lee if they maintain that cap space throughout the season, and if they’re on his list of trade destinations,” Richardson added. “They don’t have many tradable assets, but they could dangle a 2026 second-rounder and perhaps a player like Max Domi.”
Lee is entering the final year of his seven-year, $49 million deal with the Islanders. He would be a second-line left winger for the Maple Leafs. He would add some leadership to the locker room as well as some secondary scoring.
Lee recorded 29 goals and 25 assists for 54 points in 82 games. He has also skated in 46 career playoff games.
Maple Leafs Looking for Top-Six Winger
Trading for Lee makes a lot of sense for the Maple Leafs as he would add some much-needed offense to the lineup.
Lee would be a perfect second-line player, and the cost to acquire him likely wouldn’t be too high, especially if the Islanders are out of playoff contention. Adding a top-six winger is also a need, according to Maple Leafs’ general manager Brad Treliving.
“Mitch was a top-six forward, and we haven’t replaced that hole,” Treliving said on July 1. “That’s really where our focus is.”
Toronto has done a good job adding more talent to the roster after losing Mitch Marner. But still needs another top-six forward. The Maple Leafs added depth forwards Nic Roy, Mattias Maccelli, and Dakota Joshua to make the team deeper and harder to play against.
But, at the trade deadline, the Maple Leafs will likely look to add an impact top-six winger to the roster, which Lee is.
Maple Leafs Given Low Offseason Grade
Toronto lost to Marner this offseason, which in all likelihood has made them a worse team.
With that, ESPN NHL analysts Ryan S. Clark and Kristen Shilton gave the Maple Leafs a C+ for their offseason.
“There are no two ways about it; the Maple Leafs are a worse team without Marner. The silver lining is that GM Brad Treliving was able to get something for his departing free agent in a sign-and-trade with Vegas for depth forward Roy,” the article read. “Treliving carried on adding third- and fourth-line skaters in Maccelli and Pezzetta. Now, any of those three could prove to be valuable assets. But they don’t remotely replace what Toronto lost in Marner. What can you do?… How Toronto gets over the loss of Marner will be enormous in how next season plays out.”
The Maple Leafs still project to be a playoff team next season.
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