Maple Leafs Eye Familiar Face in Luke Schenn as Blue Line Questions Mount
Here we go again - the Maple Leafs and Luke Schenn, a pairing that just won’t quit. According to multiple league insiders, Toronto is once again kicking the tires on bringing Schenn back into the fold. And this wouldn’t be just a reunion - it’d be his third stint in blue and white.
The chatter picked up steam after NHL insider Chris Johnston mentioned on The Chris Johnston Show that the Leafs have indeed been exploring the possibility of reacquiring Schenn. And Johnston isn’t the only one hearing the noise.
David Pagnotta previously reported that Schenn is open to a change of scenery, while Darren Dreger added fuel to the fire by linking the veteran defenseman directly to Toronto - suggesting the price tag could be as low as a late-round pick. Elliotte Friedman, on 32 Thoughts, even shared that Toronto considered a double-Schenn deal - Luke and his brother Brayden - before pivoting to a different package involving Scott Laughton and Brandon Carlo due to the cost.
So, what’s driving this renewed interest in a player the Leafs know so well?
A Familiar Fit at the Right Price
Let’s start with the obvious: Schenn fits. He’s not a flashy acquisition, but he’s a known quantity - especially to Morgan Rielly.
During Schenn’s last go-round with the Leafs, he found quick chemistry with Rielly, which is no small thing. Finding the right partner for your top defenseman isn’t just about talent - it’s about timing, instincts, and trust.
And Schenn, with his stay-at-home style and physical edge, gave Rielly the kind of stability that allowed him to play his game freely.
That familiarity, combined with Schenn’s modest cap hit and likely low acquisition cost, makes this a move that checks a lot of boxes for GM Brad Treliving. Toronto’s asset pool isn’t exactly overflowing right now, so any addition that doesn’t drain future draft capital has to be taken seriously.
If a sixth-round pick - especially the one they got from Philadelphia - is all it takes, it’s a conversation worth having. Even if salary retention bumps the price to a fifth-rounder, it’s still a manageable move.
Depth Matters - Especially Now
The Leafs’ blue line has been a revolving door this season, and things got even more complicated with uncertainty surrounding Chris Tanev’s status. If he’s out for the rest of the 2025-26 campaign, the Leafs need to act - not just for the sake of depth, but for the sake of structure.
Slotting Schenn next to Rielly would allow Brandon Carlo to shift into a second-pairing role alongside Oliver Ekman-Larsson, giving the Leafs a more balanced top four. That would leave Jake McCabe and Troy Stecher as a reliable shutdown duo - a group that, on paper, looks playoff-ready.
Yes, it might bump Simon Benoit into a seventh defenseman role, but that’s the kind of problem contending teams want to have. If you’re serious about making a deep run, you need seven or eight defensemen you trust to take regular shifts when the games start to pile up.
The Bottom Line
Schenn isn’t a needle-mover in the traditional sense - he’s not going to rack up points or log 25 minutes a night. But what he brings is clarity.
He knows the system, he plays a simple, physical game, and he’s shown he can complement Rielly in a way few others have. For a team that’s still trying to find the right mix on the back end, that’s worth something.
If the price stays reasonable - and all signs suggest it will - this is the kind of under-the-radar move that could quietly solidify Toronto’s blue line. And if it works out like it did last time? Well, don’t be surprised if this reunion turns out to be the right move at the right time - again.