Maple Leafs Trade Candidates: Top Players Expected to Move

The Maple Leafs are about to shake things up big time before Friday’s trade deadline. That’s not just speculation – it’s pretty much guaranteed according to TSN insider Darren Dreger.

“The Leafs are going to look different on Friday,” Dreger says. With the team pushed right up against the salary cap, any new players coming in means others have to go.

And he’s not the only one saying it. James Mirtle from The Athletic just dropped some interesting names that could be on their way out.

The team’s in a tough spot with their salary cap situation. They need to clear space, and they need to do it fast.

So who’s likely to get moved?

Several players are in the hot seat:
• Ryan Reaves
• Nick Robertson
• Connor Dewar
• Conor Timmins
• Simon Benoit

Mirtle thinks the Leafs need to move at least three players. Reaves looks like he’s definitely on the chopping block – getting rid of his contract would save the team over $1 million.

The defensive situation is interesting. Timmins might stick around just because he’s a right-handed shot – those aren’t easy to find. But his $1.1 million salary could still make him expendable if the Leafs bring in another defenseman.

Connor Dewar’s been struggling this season. Zero goals and just three points while taking up $1.1 million in cap space? That’s not great.

Nick Robertson’s future with the team isn’t looking too bright either. If the Leafs grab a new center and Max Domi moves to wing, Robertson’s basically out of options. He just can’t crack the top nine forwards ahead of guys like Pacioretty, McMann, or Jarnkrok.

We won’t have to wait long to see how this all plays out. The trade deadline’s coming up fast, and the Leafs are definitely going to be busy.