The Maple Leafs are still hunting for insurance on the blue line, and two under-the-radar names have started to stand out: Cam York and Mikey Anderson.
Toronto has already done its homework on a wide range of defense options, from the high-end swing of Erik Karlsson and Simon Edvinsson to a steadier, lower-cost type like Adam Pelech. But the club also had scouts at two separate games involving Chicago/Los Angeles and Philadelphia/Columbus, and that’s where York and Anderson come into focus.
York, 25, fits the profile of a useful, modern shutdown defenseman. The former 14th overall pick has averaged 11 points, 81 blocks, and 32 hits in his career, while logging 21:19 of ice time on average. He brings mobility, penalty-killing ability, speed, and a little offense too - he scored 10 goals in 2023-24.
His contract makes him even more appealing. York is signed through 2030 at a cap hit of $5.15 million per season, which is manageable compared to some of Toronto’s existing blue-line money. He’d also give the Leafs a player who is a decade younger than half the pairings they’re trying to sort through.
Anderson offers a very similar package. At 27, he’s basically the same style of player as York, with career averages of 13 points, 86 blocks, and nearly 93 hits, along with 21:03 of ice time. He’s signed through 2031 at $4.25 million per season, making him the cheaper option, and he has no trade protection, which could make him easier to land.
Neither player would require Toronto to empty the cupboard. If the Flyers and Kings are willing to move pieces while they’re off to rough starts, the Maple Leafs could be looking at a deal built around mid-tier assets such as second- or third-round picks, or prospects like William Villeneuve, Noah Chadwick, or Vinny Borgesi.
Toronto would also need to move money out because of the tagging rules, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson is presented as the cleanest fit to help balance the finances while also moving on from a regressing player.
York and Anderson may not be the headline-grabbing fix, but they would bring steadiness and reliability to a defense that needs it. For Toronto, that might be the smarter play right now than chasing a blockbuster.
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Maple Leafs New Throwback Plan Feels Like A Missed Opportunity
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The catch is in the rollout, which trims the Leafs use of the jersey to a small handful of themed nights in 2026-27, with most of the wear dates packed into November. The slate runs through games against New Jersey, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay and Carolina, but the limited schedule leaves the feeling that the club could have leaned into the look more often and made a bigger event out of it. [Read more 🡒]