The Toronto Maple Leafs are still hunting for a defenseman who can move the needle, and they’re apparently prepared to pay up - the question is how far they’re willing to go.
Jonas Siegel of The Athletic reported that the Leafs are open to moving a “premium asset” to land an impact blue-liner. Toronto does have some pieces it can work with, including the Colorado Avalanche’s 2027 first-round pick and prospect Tinus Luc Koblar, who ranks second in the system according to The Athletic. The bigger question is whether that package - perhaps with defensive prospect Ben Danford included - is enough to pry loose the kind of player Toronto wants.
Easton Cowan appears to be the name that keeps coming up in the market. Teams looking to move an impact defenseman are believed to be asking for him, and the Leafs have to decide whether he’s truly off-limits. Trading him would carry risk, but the alternative is figuring out whether Toronto can land a major defenseman without him in the deal.
Vancouver Canucks defenseman Filip Hronek has been mentioned as a player who would fit. The same goes for short-term targets such as Erik Karlsson and Roman Josi. The Leafs may also have to consider whether the Avalanche first and Danford would be enough, or whether a player like Cowan would need to be part of a bigger trade for Hronek or someone even more impactful.
Meanwhile, the Nashville Predators have entered the conversation on the other side of the trade market. According to Daily Faceoff, teams have been calling about defenseman Brady Skjei, and the Predators are listening.
David Pagnotta said: “Well, I’ve been told, and dug on this, a few teams have told me that Brady Skjei’s name is out there. Nashville is listening, and they’ve had conversations with teams about Brady Skjei, who has four more years on his contract after this one.
He’s 32 years old. He’s got a $7 million cap hit, and he has no trade protection as part of his deal.
But there are teams that, while they’ve had conversations involving Skjei, for now, are a little bit reluctant to take on that remaining contract at its entirety. Leads me to believe a lot of playoff contending teams might be interested in this particular player that don’t have the space to necessarily work with.
Because a player of his calibre, different environment, his experience, past experience, especially in those Carolina days. It’s a hell of a guy to have on that back end.”
In Other News...
Megnas Return Gives Colorado A Boost Fans Will Notice
Jayson Megna gave the Colorado Eagles exactly the kind of lift that tends to matter in the middle of a season grind, scoring twice in a 4-1 win over the Bakersfield Condors and finishing it off with the game-winner. The veteran forwards return was one of the cleaner storylines of the night, and it came with Colorado getting contributions in the other key areas too, as the Eagles cashed in on special teams and kept the pressure on from start to finish.
Ilya Nabokov backed it up in net with 34 saves on 35 shots to move to 4-1-0, giving Colorado the kind of steadiness that can make a lineup feel deeper than it looks on paper. Bakersfield tried to reset its crease by turning from Connor Ungar to Nathan Day during the game, but the Eagles never let the shift change the rhythm, and Megnas presence was the kind of boost fans will notice again if it carries over. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Top Line Finally Looked Like A Problem Again
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There were still a few rough edges, though, which is where this one gets more interesting for Colorado. The penalty kill had its issues, and a controversial late sequence added some noise to a night that otherwise felt like a step toward getting the teams most dangerous trio rolling again. If the Avalanche are going to lean into that kind of top-end firepower, theyll still want the rest of the details cleaned up behind it. [Read more 🡒]
Mikko Rantanen Is Heating Up And Avalanche Fans Know What Follows
Mikko Rantanens start with the Dallas Stars has been hard to ignore, especially for Avalanche fans who know exactly how dangerous he can look when he gets rolling. He has seven points in his last five games, capped by a hat trick against Boston, a reminder of the kind of high-end production Colorado spent years leaning on during his run with the club.
Rantanen was a central part of the Avalanches Stanley Cup title in 2022, and his later playoff performance against Colorado in 2025 only added another layer to a trade that still gets revisited. With his game heating up again in Dallas, the old questions around what Colorado gave up and what it received back are bound to follow him every time he strings together nights like this. [Read more 🡒]