NHL Trade Rumors: Maple Leafs & Kraken Linked to Pre-Deadline Deal

The Toronto Maple Leafs are in the market for some bottom-six help, as GM Brad Treliving has been making trade calls for over a month now. With Max Domi underperforming so far this season, Treliving has had to pivot in a hurry and try to find his shut-down center on the trade market before March 7.

Insert the Seattle Kraken and Stanley Cup winner Yanni Gourde. Gourde isn't expected back until mid-March as he's recovering from sports hernia surgery, which actually helps the Maple Leafs case as Gourde won't cost as much on the trade market considering he's currently injured.

The 33-year-old center is a pending free agent who makes $5.1 million AAV against the cap. The Leafs will need Kraken GM Ron Francis to retain some salary in the deal as Toronto is in a bit of a cap crunch, especially once Calle Jarnkrok gets activated from the injured reserve.

As for Gourde, he's won a Cup, he can play in all situations, and his in-your-face style of play is perfectly suited for a Craig Berube-coached team. Gourde has appeared 35 games so far this year, scoring six times and adding 10 assists. His best season came back in 2017-18 with the Tampa Bay Lightning when he recorded 64 points in 82 games.

Gourde has 83 games of Stanley Cup Playoff experience under his belt and has performed well when it's mattered most, collecting 42 postseason points. His game is perfectly suited to complement Auston Matthews and John Tavares down the middle in Toronto.

As for potential trade candidates to Seattle, keep an eye on Nick Robertson, Pontus Holmberg and Conor Timmins.

3) Yanni Gourde

I know, I know, he's injured and isn't coming back until around the TDL. That might be a good thing, though, because it will have tanked his trade value.

Gourde is still the best bottom-six player on the market, even with the injury. pic.twitter.com/qn7puGfc2Y
— JP Gambatese (@jp_gambatese) February 14, 2025

Yanni Gourde's helmet got stuck inside his jersey.

Never seen that before. pic.twitter.com/HUdb8QHqia
— Emerald City Hockey (@EmeraldCityHky) January 14, 2024