Maple Leafs Face a Crucial Deadline: Time to Sell High and Reset
Let’s call it what it is-this season hasn’t gone the way the Toronto Maple Leafs hoped. Expectations might’ve been tempered heading into 2025-26, but even the most pragmatic fans would agree: this campaign has been a disappointment.
The good news? There’s still a way to make something out of it.
With the trade deadline approaching, Toronto is in a solid position to be sellers-and not in a fire sale kind of way. They’ve got a handful of middle-of-the-lineup players who could draw real interest, including a couple of pending UFAs in Scott Laughton and Bobby McMann.
The key here is that the Leafs can recoup assets without touching their core. That’s a rare opportunity for a team trying to recalibrate without tearing everything down.
Max Domi: A Timely Resurgence
The name that’s starting to generate buzz is Max Domi-and for good reason. After a sluggish start to his tenure in Toronto, Domi has flipped the script. With 20 points in his last 27 games through December and January, he’s putting together a stretch that mirrors some of the best hockey he’s played in his career.
That $3.75 million cap hit? It doesn’t look so bad anymore.
In fact, it’s starting to look like fair value-especially for a team looking to add a versatile forward who can slot in at center. If the Leafs retain a bit of salary, they could turn Domi into a meaningful return.
Timing is everything in the trade market, and Domi’s recent production is exactly the kind of hot streak that can boost a player’s value. His inconsistency has been well-documented, which is why moving him now-while he’s on an upswing-makes sense. It’s a similar play to what Chicago pulled off with him not long ago.
Toronto has other offense-first, defensively limited forwards like Nick Robertson and Matias Maccelli in the mix. That redundancy makes Domi expendable, especially as the Leafs eye a roster refresh heading into 2026-27.
Yes, some of Domi’s recent success has come while skating alongside Auston Matthews. That’s not lost on front offices around the league. But for a contender looking for a plug-and-play forward who can contribute in a top-six or top-nine role, Domi checks a lot of boxes.
And let’s be real-he’s not the long-term answer in Toronto’s top six, regardless of who’s behind the bench. If there’s value to be had, now’s the time to cash in.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson: A Surprising Bounce-Back
Another name that should be in the “sell high” conversation: Oliver Ekman-Larsson. After a rough 2024-25 campaign, expectations were low.
But this season? He’s been one of the Leafs’ most productive blueliners-and one of the most surprising stories in the league.
Ekman-Larsson is outperforming some big-name defensemen-think Dougie Hamilton-level players-at a fraction of the cost. That kind of value won’t go unnoticed by playoff-bound teams in need of a veteran presence who can move the puck and chip in offensively.
But here’s the question Toronto needs to ask: is this version of Ekman-Larsson sustainable? And more importantly, does he fit into the vision for 2026-27 and beyond? If there’s any doubt, the smart move is to move on while his stock is high.
Other Pieces in Play
Beyond Domi and Ekman-Larsson, the Leafs have a handful of other contracts worth evaluating. Nicolas Roy, Dakota Joshua, Jake McCabe, Brandon Carlo, and Anthony Stolarz all fall into that middle ground-players who could stick around, but who might also bring back assets or open up cap space for a summer reset.
There’s less urgency with this group, but flexibility is currency in today’s NHL. If Toronto can flip one or two of these deals into future assets or cap space, it gives them more room to maneuver in the offseason. That kind of flexibility could be the difference between another frustrating campaign and a meaningful step forward.
Looking Ahead
No, the Leafs aren’t going to blow it all up at the deadline. But this is the kind of moment where smart teams get proactive. Identify who’s overperforming, who still carries league-wide value, and make calculated moves that set up the next phase of the roster.
Toronto doesn’t need to win the trade deadline. But they do need to come out of it with a clearer path forward-and ideally, a few more tools in the toolbox. Whether that’s cap space, draft picks, or young talent, the goal is the same: build a team that’s better equipped to compete in 2026-27 and beyond.
This season may not be salvageable in the standings, but the trade deadline gives the Leafs a chance to start building something better. And that’s a win worth chasing.