The Toronto Maple Leafs will look to add a centerman to their roster as it’s their biggest need entering the offseason.
The website PuckPedia’s PuckGM tool lets users create their own trades. One user proposed a deal that would see the Maple Leafs acquire Brayden Schenn from the St. Louis Blues.
Maple Leafs acquire:
- Brayden Schenn ($3.3 million retained)
Blues acquire:
- Ben Danford
- Pontus Holmberg
- 2028 first-round pick
The proposed deal would be a blockbuster as Toronto would bring in Schenn while dealing a top prospect and their next first-round pick. The Blues, however, would retain some money on Schenn, which makes Toronto pay more.
The Maple Leafs would acquire Schenn, who’s in the sixth year of his eight-year, $52 million deal. Schenn would be a perfect second or third-line center for the Maple Leafs, depending on whether John Tavares returns. He’s the Blues’ captain and won a Cup with Craig Berube as his coach. Schenn recorded 18 goals and 32 assists for 50 points last season.
In return, the Maple Leafs would give up a first-round pick and one of their top prospects in Danford. Danford was Toronto’s first-round selection last year and is a stay-at-home defenseman who’s playing in the OHL.
The Blues would also acquire Holmberg, who’s a pending RFA. Holmberg is a bottom-six forward who can help replace the void of Schenn while also being much younger. He recorded 7 goals and 12 assists for 19 points in 68 games last season.
Maple Leafs Coach Heaps Praise on Schenn
Toronto trading for Schenn makes a lot of sense due to his relationship with Berube.
Berube used to be the Blues’ coach, and he and Schenn won the Stanley Cup together in St. Louis. Berube was a big fan of Schenn and after he played his 1000th career NHL game, the Maple Leafs coach praised him.
“I congratulated him today,” Berube said. “I love that player, I love the guy. He’s a super human being. 1,000 games is a lot of games in the league. He’s a dedicated player. I always say that: Guys who play that long are dedicated to the game. They do all the right things throughout the summer, game in, and game out, preparing. He’s a very prepared player. He looks after his body, he looks after himself and loves the game. He’s a hockey nerd. It was great to see him (play) 1,000 games. Very happy for him.”
The Maple Leafs tried to trade for Schenn at the deadline, but St. Louis opted not to move him. But, now that the offseason is upon us, perhaps the Blues will look to trade him.
Analyst Links Maple Leafs to Schenn
The Maple Leafs have been linked to Schenn for quite some time, and the interest is expected to heat up again this summer.
NHL analyst Jonas Siegel of The Athletic named Schenn one of the nine potential trade targets for the Maple Leafs to fill their center void.
“Schenn has a built-in history with Berube and is well suited to his preferred style of play,” Siegel wrote. “But Schenn hasn’t been nearly the same playoff performer as Bennett, he’s a lot older (turning 34 in August) and would cost the Leafs some notable assets to bring in…
“If the Leafs can somehow bring down the ask and get the Blues to eat some money — two tall tasks to be sure — trading for Schenn feels preferable to paying through the nose for Bennett,” Siegel added.
Toronto enters the offseason with just over $25.7 million in cap space.
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