The Toronto Maple Leafs are heating up in 2026, and with the NHL Trade Deadline approaching, they’ve gone from fringe sellers to legitimate buyers. Winners in seven of their last eight, the Leafs have rediscovered their rhythm - and with just a single regulation loss in that stretch, they’ve clawed their way back into the playoff picture.
They're not quite in yet, but sitting one point out with the Atlantic Division as competitive as ever, they’re within striking distance. A move or two could be the difference between another early offseason and a real postseason push.
Instead of swinging for the fences with a blockbuster like Dougie Hamilton or Artemi Panarin, Toronto might be wise to look to the past - and consider bringing back a few familiar faces who already know what it means to wear the blue and white.
Luke Schenn: A Familiar Presence on the Blue Line
With Chris Tanev sidelined, the Leafs’ right side on defense has taken a hit - and it’s shown. Enter Luke Schenn.
No, he’s not the fleetest skater at 36, but Schenn brings something this group needs: size, experience, and a steady presence on the back end. At 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds, he still plays with the kind of physical edge that becomes even more valuable in playoff hockey.
Schenn’s averaging just over 13 minutes a night this season, and that’s about where he’d slot in on Toronto’s third pair - likely replacing Philippe Myers. Troy Stecher has held his own and more this year, and Schenn wouldn’t be asked to do too much. Just play smart, simple hockey - the kind he delivered during Toronto’s 2023 playoff run, when he was paired with Morgan Rielly and looked right at home.
He’s not a long-term solution, but he doesn’t need to be. What Schenn can offer is playoff-tested depth, something the Leafs could use if they want to survive the grind of the postseason.
Michael Bunting: Chemistry You Can’t Teach
Michael Bunting might carry a $4.5 million cap hit, but there’s a case to be made that he’s worth the squeeze - especially if the Leafs can offset the cost by moving someone like Calle Järnkrok. Bunting’s best hockey came in Toronto, where he posted back-to-back 23-goal seasons riding shotgun with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. That familiarity matters.
Sure, Bobby McMann and Max Domi have found a groove alongside Matthews recently, but we’ve seen this story before with McMann - a hot stretch followed by a fade. If and when that happens, Bunting becomes a plug-and-play option who already knows how to complement the Leafs’ top stars.
Beyond the numbers, Bunting brings a certain edge and energy that can be contagious. He’s not afraid to get under opponents’ skin, and he’s got the skill to back it up. With the Leafs’ depth starting to take shape - especially with the emergence of the Easton Cowan-Nic Roy-Nick Robertson line - adding a top-six winger who already has chemistry with your franchise center feels like a smart insurance policy.
Nazem Kadri: The Dream Reunion
Now, this one’s a stretch - but it’s hard not to imagine the buzz if Nazem Kadri made his way back to Toronto. With three years left on a $7 million AAV deal, the cap gymnastics would be complicated, to say the least. But if there’s a way to make it work, Kadri would instantly become a fan favorite all over again.
He was always a polarizing figure in Toronto - talented, gritty, sometimes too aggressive for his own good. His back-to-back playoff suspensions ultimately led to his departure, but the sting of that trade never fully went away for Leafs fans. Kadri went on to win a Stanley Cup with Colorado, proving exactly what he’s capable of when he channels his game the right way.
He never wanted to leave Toronto, and the city never really stopped loving him. Now older, more mature, and still hungry for another shot at the postseason (he hasn’t been back since 2022), Kadri could bring a unique blend of fire and leadership to a Leafs team that’s still searching for its playoff breakthrough.
It may be a pipe dream - but sometimes, those are the ones worth chasing, especially when the fit feels this right.
The Leafs have momentum, and the trade deadline offers a chance to build on it. Whether it’s a steady hand like Schenn, a spark plug like Bunting, or the emotional jolt of a Kadri reunion, Toronto has options. And this time, the window feels open just wide enough to take a real shot.