NHL Trade Rumors: Maple Leafs Still Hunting For One Specific Upgrade

Friday, July 04, 2025
Toronto Maple Leafs jersey.

Brad Treliving isn’t done. While most NHL teams wrapped up their biggest moves on July 1, the Toronto Maple Leafs are still actively hunting for a top-six forward to replace the hole left by Mitch Marner’s departure.

Leafs Still Looking for Top-Six Help After Marner Departure

Treliving made it clear the team isn't interested in blindly throwing money at anyone left on the UFA market. Instead, he’s eyeing trades that require some creativity and guts. The Leafs have cap space (around $5 million), a few valuable trade chips, and plenty of pressure to deliver before the window slams shut on this core.

Trade Market the More Likely Path

Free agency offered slim pickings. Toronto missed out on Brad Marchand, Brock Boeser, and Mikael Granlund, and while Nikolaj Ehlers remains unsigned, southern market teams seem to have the edge there. 

That’s why Treliving is shifting his attention to the trade market. Mason Marchment (now in Seattle), Nazem Kadri, Pavel Zacha, and even names like Jonathan Marchessault or Rickard Rakell have all been floated as potential fits. But few, if any, are sure bets, especially given Toronto’s limited asset pool.

To land a legit top-six piece, the Leafs may need to part with a player like Joseph Woll or top prospects Easton Cowan and Ben Danford. Nick Robertson, who was qualified this offseason, also remains a likely trade chip. 

In terms of pure cap dump flexibility, David Kämpf and Calle Järnkrok could also be moved to clear space, but that only gets you so far. If Treliving is serious about filling the Marner-sized void, it may take more than future picks or secondary prospects.

The Clock’s Ticking, but Treliving’s Not Rushing

Treliving's patience this offseason hasn’t been without reason. He passed on bloated UFA deals and even admitted Toronto’s not richer for losing Marner, just different. The hope is that a summer of smart maneuvering, not panic spending, will give the Leafs a better shot when it matters most. 

Nicolas Roy, acquired in the Marner sign-and-trade, helps solidify center depth. But even Treliving admitted Roy doesn’t fill the void left behind.

Whether it’s Kadri, Zacha, or a player we’re not yet talking about, the Leafs need one more piece to round out their top six. And that piece probably isn’t coming from within.

Photo Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

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