Leafs Receiving Interest in Four Significant Assets Ahead of Trade Deadline

We are officially one week out from the 2024-25 NHL trade deadline, and the Maple Leafs are very much positioned in the buyer's market again this season.

Just how big of a splash they make depends entirely on which assets they choose to move. The names of Easton Cowan and Frased Minten have been out there, and the Leafs may need to move one of them if they want to land one od the big fish.

There's also been speculation that the Leafs will consider trading their 2026 1st round pick if the piece they're getting back is significant enough -- though they'll need a player with term if they part with any of the 3 aforementioned pieces.

Sportsnet' Elliotte Friedman revealed late on Thursday evening that there is a 4th piece that the Leafs are being contacted about as well. 2024 1st round pick Ben Dandord.

On the higher end, the Leafs have been linked to Mikko Rantanen. Just below Rantanen are players like Brayden Schenn and Brock Nelson. One step below that are guys like Scott Laughton and Yanni Gourde. The Leafs have been mentioned in rumours and reports a number of times in connection to each of them. Another report suggested that the Leafs may go after both Schenn brothers, Brayden and Luke.

If the Leafs don't get a deal they like for any of the abovementioned players, Friedman mentioned that there's also lower tier guys like Luke Kunin, Nick Bjugstad, and Jake Evans available -- none of whom would require the Leafs to part with any high picks or top prospects.

Brad Treliving and the Maple Leafs have one week to decide how big they'd like to swing. If they want one of the bigger fish, though, the bait is going to have to be one of Minten, Cowan, Danford or their 2026 1st rounder. Depending on the player they go after, it might even require more than one of these pieces.