If the Maple Leafs decide Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s rough stretch has gone on long enough, Chicago looks like a logical place to send him.
Toronto has gotten almost nothing from Ekman-Larsson this season. After two strong years on both ends of the ice, his game has stalled hard: one assist in 19 games, a minus-3, and no obvious signs that the production is coming back anytime soon. For a team trying to manage its roster and squeeze value out of every spot, that kind of dip changes the conversation fast.
The Blackhawks, though, could have a real use for him. Scott Powers of The Athletic reported that Chicago is still in the market for help, and not just up front.
The Blackhawks have been linked to a scoring winger with size, but they also want another veteran defenseman, especially with Bowen Byram out. As Powers put it, “There has been a lot of talk about the Blackhawks' pursuing a scoring winger with size.
They'd love to do that, but they're also looking to add another veteran defenseman. Especially with Byram out, they've proved to be too inexperienced”
That makes Ekman-Larsson an interesting fit. Even with the down year, he could bring some stability to a young blue line and offer a bit of offense while Byram is sidelined. He’s also coming off back-to-back seasons in which he averaged six goals and 34 points, which is a much better version of the player Toronto has seen this year.
The problem for the Maple Leafs is that his struggles are affecting more than just the box score. His contract is making it harder for the team to shuffle pieces around, and it’s also limiting opportunities for younger defensemen who could use a look. Ben Danford’s broken wrist only adds to that frustration, since he would have been a natural candidate for a call-up if Ekman-Larsson were moved.
For now, though, patience may be the smarter play. Toronto may not need to force anything while the roster is banged up. But once the injuries clear and the group gets healthier, the Leafs will have a decision to make on Ekman-Larsson - and right now, he’s not making that choice any easier.
In Other News...
Leafs Fans Are Already Debating A Blockbuster This Team May Need
Leafs chatter has a way of turning hypothetical ideas into full-blown debates, and this latest one is no exception. On social media, fans have been tossing around the kind of blockbuster framework that instantly grabs attention because it involves two of Torontos most recognizable names and a fresh angle on how the roster might be reshaped.
The appeal is obvious on the surface, but the practical hurdles are just as clear. Morgan Riellys no-trade clause complicates any move involving him, and William Nylander remains too important to Torontos attack to be treated lightly in any serious discussion. On the other side, there are also questions about whether Dylan Larkin would even consider a move north, which leaves this as more of a fan-driven thought experiment than a deal with real traction. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Suddenly Have A Shot At An Elite Young Scorer
The Maple Leafs are suddenly in the mix for a player who would change the look of their forward group if they can find a way to make it work. Reports from Kevin Weekes and other league sources say Flyers winger Matvei Michkov is available under unusual circumstances, and with Toronto always hunting for more high-end scoring, a young talent of that caliber is the kind of name that naturally jumps to the front of the conversation.
Michkov is in the final year of his contract, which only adds to the intrigue around what Philadelphia might do next and how aggressive interested teams can afford to be. For Toronto, the challenge is obvious: any serious pursuit would come at a steep price in assets and money, but the payoff would be landing one of the leagues most gifted young scorers at a time when that kind of upside is hard to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Just Reignited The Gavin McKenna Usage Debate
The Maple Leafs stirred up a familiar lineup debate at practice by moving Ryan Tverberg into the top six, where he skated alongside John Tavares and William Nylander. For a team still sorting out its forward mix, the decision stood out because it came with a player who has barely any NHL experience and no points, while the more established offensive options were left to absorb the shuffle elsewhere in the group.
The move inevitably put Gavin McKenna back in the spotlight, especially with the first overall pick sitting on 12 points in 19 games and tied for the rookie scoring lead. Even with that production, his ice time has been anything but steady, and the benchings have only sharpened the question of how Toronto wants to use him. The Leafs clearly see something they like in Tverbergs fit, but the choice also reopens the larger discussion about whether McKenna is being asked to do enough, or simply being held to a different standard. [Read more 🡒]