The Toronto Maple Leafs sound ready to swing big again, and this time the focus is on the blue line.
On The Sheet with Jeff Marek, the discussion centered on Toronto’s search for a defenseman and the possibility that the club could be aiming well beyond a short-term fix. With next year’s cap picture described as tight, the Maple Leafs are operating in a world where every move has to fit cleanly, and that has only sharpened the stakes around what kind of upgrade they pursue.
Jeff Marek put the cap reality front and center: “As they head into the weekend with like no tagging space for next year and everything is dollar in dollar out, no one with term. What are they looking for as far as upgrades go?”
Pagnotta said the answer points to something substantial. He noted that John Chayka acknowledged this week that Toronto wants to improve its blue line, and not with a quick patch. In Pagnotta’s view, that kind of language suggests the Maple Leafs are chasing a real, lasting piece back there - the sort of move that would qualify as another major trade.
He also said Chayka made it clear the door is open to another splash. When asked whether Toronto would be willing to make another blockbuster like the Knies-Marchenko deal, Pagnotta said Chayka answered simply, “Yes.”
That naturally raises questions about what Toronto might be willing to move. Pagnotta pointed to Morgan Rielly as a name worth watching, though he stressed that Rielly has full say in the matter. He added that this was the kind of environment that had already been explored over the summer, so the possibility isn’t coming out of nowhere.
The asset question matters too, and Pagnotta said the Maple Leafs may not have many easy chips to play. He mentioned that Toronto had poked around on Simon Edvinsson before, and if the club goes down that road again, it would take “Easton Cowan-plus.”
Elsewhere in the rumor mill, the Detroit Red Wings have been back in on the Washington Capitals. Tom Gulitti reported that Red Wings assistant general manager and head of pro scouting Kris Draper has been at the Capitals’ past two home games.
And in New Jersey, the message was firm: Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt are not going anywhere in a Dylan Larkin trade. James Nichols said the Devils are not trading either player to make that kind of deal, adding that the Devils “didn’t give up half that to get Connor Hellebuyck.”
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The market, of course, is where this gets complicated. Teams such as Carolina, Montreal and Utah have also been weighed for the kinds of prospect and asset packages they could put together, and the Devils would have to decide how far they are willing to go if the opportunity really opens up. For now, there is no confirmed trade or official move, just a lot of maneuvering and the kind of speculation that can quickly turn a star name into the center of the deadline chatter. [Read more 🡒]
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Still, any time the Devils roll out a new alternate, the reaction tends to split quickly between those who want something fresh and those who would rather the team stick closer to its classic look. The early leak only added to the conversation, especially since the initial merchandise listing on Macys site featured only Timo Meier jerseys, a small detail that only sharpened the curiosity around how the full rollout will land once the team is actually wearing them on the ice. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Momentum Is Building Despite Two Concerns Fans Can't Ignore
The Devils came home from a productive road trip with two wins in three games, a stretch that pushed their October record to 9-5-0 and kept the early-season momentum rolling. A handful of familiar names helped drive the results, with Connor Hellebuyck, Luke Hughes, Arseny Gritsyuk, Jack Hughes and Connor Brown all making meaningful contributions as New Jersey continued to stack points.
Still, the good vibes come with a couple of issues that are hard to miss. The power play has not been converting at a strong enough rate, and Anthony Manthas availability is now in question after he left a recent game. For a team that has done plenty right so far, those are the kinds of concerns that can linger if they are not cleaned up soon. [Read more 🡒]