As the NHL’s Olympic roster freeze nears its end, the trade chatter is starting to heat up-and all eyes in Toronto are on what the Maple Leafs might do once the market reopens. But according to insider Elliotte Friedman, fans hoping for a major shake-up might want to temper expectations.
Speaking on Oilers NOW with Bob Stauffer, Friedman offered a glimpse into what he’s hearing about the Leafs’ approach to the deadline. And while there’s movement expected, it may not be the kind of full-scale overhaul some fans are craving.
“I think they’re going to sell,” Friedman said. “I think they’re going to talk about McMann, and I think they’re going to talk about Laughton for sure. And I think they’ll listen on some other things, but I don’t know how much deeper than that it’s going to get.”
That’s a pretty clear signal: Toronto is open for business, but the scope of their activity might be limited. The two names Friedman mentioned-Bobby McMann and Scott Laughton-make sense as trade chips.
Both are pending UFAs with manageable cap hits and skill sets that playoff-bound teams covet. McMann brings a gritty, north-south scoring game that could translate well in the postseason grind.
Laughton, meanwhile, is a dependable two-way center who can stabilize a bottom-six unit and chip in on special teams.
Still, the fact that Friedman isn’t hearing much beyond those two could be a bit concerning for Leafs fans who were hoping for a broader retooling. After all, this is a team that’s been stuck in the middle-not quite a contender, not quite rebuilding-and the deadline is a prime opportunity to reshape the roster.
If general manager Brad Treliving can get solid returns for McMann and Laughton, that’s a start. But if those are the only moves, it may feel like a missed opportunity-especially if both players walk in free agency with nothing coming back.
There’s also been chatter around other possible trade candidates: Matias Maccelli, Calle Järnkrok, Nicolas Roy, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Brandon Carlo, and Simon Benoit. That’s a wide range of players, and moving even a few of them could signal a more aggressive retool. It’s not about blowing it up-it’s about making the kind of calculated changes that reshape the identity of a roster that’s been treading water.
As for the potential return on McMann and Laughton? That’s where things get tricky. Friedman noted that the Leafs would like to land first-round picks, but that’s easier said than done.
“You need demand,” Friedman said. “And I think for McMann and Laughton there will be some demand.
You need a bunch of teams competing to throw you over. The biggest challenge I’ve heard is, look at all the teams that are contenders that have already given up their 2026 first.”
That’s a key point. Several of the NHL’s top-tier teams-Colorado, Tampa Bay, Carolina, Minnesota, Dallas, Vegas, Edmonton-have already moved their 2026 first-rounders.
Those are exactly the kinds of clubs you’d expect to be interested in depth adds like McMann or Laughton. But if they’re out of draft capital, the bidding war might not heat up the way Toronto hopes.
That leaves teams like Detroit, Montreal, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Boston, and the Islanders as potential suitors with first-rounders still in hand. But whether those teams are willing to part with those picks, given where they are in their own competitive timelines, remains to be seen.
For now, it’s a waiting game. The Olympic roster freeze lifts on February 22, and the trade deadline looms on March 6. Between those dates, the Leafs have a chance to make meaningful changes-or risk standing pat while the rest of the league gets aggressive.
Toronto’s front office has some tough calls to make. If they’re serious about reshaping this team, it’s going to take more than just moving two pending UFAs. The window is open-but for how long, and how wide, remains the biggest question.