If the Maple Leafs are seriously circling Zach Werenski, they may have to wait a while before anything gets real. Elliotte Friedman took some heat out of the rumor mill and made it clear that a deal is not close.
Toronto’s blue line is already feeling the strain. Chris Tanev is out for the next little bit, Jake McCabe just went down, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson has stayed healthy so far even though he has already left two games this year. Beyond the injuries, the Leafs also need more offense from the back end, which is why Werenski keeps coming back into the conversation.
The fit is easy to picture. Werenski has familiarity with Auston Matthews, and if the two were running the power play together, it would be a dangerous look. But for now, that stays in the imagination category.
Friedman said the talk is ahead of itself and that there is no real Werenski watch yet. As he put it:
Everybody's wondering if a Werenski watch will start up again. But I think it's premature for that.
That leaves Toronto in the familiar spot of wondering what kind of package would even make sense. Without Matthew Knies, it is hard to see the Leafs moving much. Ben Danford and Easton Cowan are non-negotiable, and the return would likely require as many picks as possible, with NHL-level talent like McCabe possibly in the mix too.
Even with all that, the question is whether the price makes sense. Werenski would change the look of the lineup, but there are real concerns about what happens when the games tighten up in the postseason. He has 13 points in 29 games, which is not exactly the kind of production that settles every debate by itself.
Then there is the contract situation. A major deal would have to be paid a couple of seasons from now, and the Leafs would have to figure out how to handle that alongside Auston Matthews, who also needs a new contract at the same time.
The only clean path would be if Toronto could land an extended rental, get the immediate boost, and somehow avoid losing the long-term gamble. If Werenski never re-signs, the Leafs could end up emptying the cupboard for very little in return.
For now, Werenski looks like a tempting idea more than an active pursuit. He could absolutely help Toronto during the regular season, but with no guarantee he lifts them further in the playoffs and a steep asking price attached, Friedman’s message was pretty blunt: there is no reason to get carried away yet.
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The 26-year-old has been productive over the past three seasons, averaging 19 goals and 19 assists, and he is still under team control beyond this year as a restricted free agent. For the Leafs, the appeal is obvious: a big body who can change the look of a forward group. The question is whether Columbus decides the right move is to keep shopping, and whether Toronto is willing to push hard enough to make the fit work. [Read more 🡒]