Multiple sources have Roman Josi tied to the Maple Leafs, and the fit makes sense if Toronto is serious about another major shakeup on the blue line.
The Leafs have already been connected to names like Simon Edvinsson and Erik Karlsson, but nothing has come together yet. What they seem to be chasing is clear: an elite offensive defenseman who can drive play without becoming a liability in his own end. That kind of player is hard to find, but Josi is one of the few who fits the bill.
Out in Nashville, Josi’s name has surfaced as a veteran who could be moved as GM Chris McFarland looks to steer the Predators in a new direction. The idea is simple enough: give Josi a chance to win while also getting younger and rebuilding piece by piece. According to sources too, there is a real possibility it happens.
If you’re John Chayka, the appeal is obvious. Toronto wants to redo the blue line, and there’s been plenty of talk about Nashville having taken this roster as far as it can go. How deep a rebuild this becomes is still unclear, but the question around Josi is just as direct: does he want to wait around for that, or get into a spot where he can maximize his potential?
Spittin’ Chiclets co-host Paul Bissonnette also thinks Toronto is a legitimate landing spot. The show pointed to the connection between Auston Matthews and Josi, since the two share the same agent, and Bissonnette put it plainly: "I think there’s a real possibility he goes there. They are going to continue to make moves."
The challenge for the Maple Leafs is that a player like Josi won’t come cheap, either in assets or in contract flexibility. He’s going to be 37, he makes $9M until 2028, and that salary can create problems with tagging allotment again. Nashville could retain salary, but that would only push the price higher.
A deal would likely send Ben Danford the other way, along with one of Alex Bilecki or Ethan McKenzie. Danford is Toronto’s top defensive prospect and could give the Predators a young shutdown option, while Bilecki or McKenzie would help replace some of the offense lost with Josi moving on.
Add Colorado’s 2027 first-round pick into the mix, and McFarland would have a package that brings back more flexibility and more assets. Toronto, meanwhile, would be getting even more dangerous.
It’s a steep price, but that’s the cost of landing a player with nearly 800 points and over 1,000 NHL games - an elite force who can change the look of a lineup. And that’s why the logic behind the move comes back to one simple line: "You need to trade quality to get quality."
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Nikita Kucherov is suddenly part of that conversation after requesting a trade from Tampa Bay, with the possibility that he eventually reaches free agency hanging over the situation. For Toronto, the intrigue is obvious, but so is the catch: any serious run at a player of that magnitude will depend on how the club handles its own major contract business in the years ahead, and those decisions are already lining up fast. [Read more 🡒]
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For the Maple Leafs, the appeal is obvious enough to understand why they were mentioned, even if the fit is not cut-and-dried. Toronto already has several bottom-six forwards it feels good about, which is why a claim would likely spark some debate among fans who want the team to add only if the upgrade is clear, not just available. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Face A Growing Problem Ahead Of Montreal
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Jim Hiller has been pressing the same broader point: the Leafs need more time in the offensive zone so they are not spending shifts under constant defensive stress. The players have echoed the importance of communication and trust in the system, while John Tavares continues to move in the right direction in his recovery and will be evaluated before any return is considered. [Read more 🡒]