3 players Maple Leafs must trade in 2025 NHL offseason

Toronto has all six of its top defenders under contract for this upcoming season. Still, the group costs over $24.5 million in cap space this upcoming season. One solid option would be to trade Morgan Rielly. Rielly was playing on the second rotation during the playoffs, and at a cost of $7.5 million at age 31, trading Rielly would bring back valuable assets and create cap space. Still, the D-man has a no-movement clause. He has said he does not want to be moved from Toronto, which would complicate trading the blue liner away.

Still, Oliver Ekman-Larsson has a modified no-trade clause. It is a 16-team no-trade list this season, but that still leaves 15 other NHL teams for the Leafs to potentially work a deal with. He will turn 34 before the start of the season, and cost $3.5 million per year over the next three seasons. The Swede signed a four-year contract with Toronto before the start of this past campaign.

It was a solid season for Ekman-Larsson, as he scored four goals and had 25 assists. Further, he logged 21:04 of ice time per game in the regular season this year, the most since the 2021-22 season with the Canucks. Still, his ice time dropped in the playoffs, and he was relegated to the third rotation towards the end of their run. The Leafs have multiple players in the AHL system that seem primed to jump to the NHL level, so moving a blue liner is necessary for the franchise. The best option is trading off OEL.

Trading William Nylander would be a nuclear move

While the first two moves would prepare Toronto for this season, there is the potential that they will go for a total rebuild. Trading Nylander would be a major step in making a complete overhaul of the roster. Trading the winger could be difficult. He has a no-movement clause, and therefore would need to sign off on any deal involving his movement. Still,  if the Leafs are making a total roster transformation, getting him to sign off may not be difficult. It would also be a perfect time for the sale.

Nylander just completed his third straight season playing all 82 games, and he has missed just one game in the last four years. Further, he just had his third straight 40-goal campaign, setting a career high with 45 goals. Nylander would instantly improve any offense, and teams would gladly pay a premium for him. Mikko Rantanen was traded for two first-round picks, two third-round picks, and Logan Stankoven when he was moved from the Carolina Hurricanes to the Dallas Stars. It is possible that Toronto would get a similar return, providing the draft capital they need.

Further, this would clear $11.5 million in cap space. While it would not make sense to bring back Marner if they are going for the rebuild, this could be used to lock up players they feel are important for the future. This would be a nuclear option for the Leafs. Still, with the expectation that the 2026 NHL Draft will be filled with depth, making moves to secure draft capital for that draft could be helpful long-term for Toronto. The decision-makers for the Leafs need to decide how they are moving into the future. Still, Toronto is flush with trade options, but standing pat is not an option this summer.