The Toronto Maple Leafs are at a pivotal point in the season where decisions on trades could significantly impact their playoff chances. Their performance has been uneven, and management is exploring ways to strengthen the roster while maintaining the team’s competitiveness.

With injuries and inconsistent results affecting their standings, the Maple Leafs are considering options that could help both their defense and scoring depth. The choices made now will affect the rest of the season and the team’s setup for the playoffs.

Toronto Maple Leafs Weigh Rasmus Andersson Trade vs Boosting Auston Matthews

Toronto has a 15-12-5 record and sits sixth in the Atlantic Division. The team has shown strong offensive moments, led by Auston Matthews with 14 goals and William Nylander with 25 assists and 36 points. Still, their inconsistency in close games and a 15 percent power play have kept them from climbing higher. Defensively, allowing 3.22 goals per game has highlighted gaps that management may want to address.

One player being considered is Rasmus Andersson, the 29-year-old defenseman and alternate captain for the Calgary Flames. Andersson was drafted 53rd overall in 2015 and is under a six-year, $27.3 million contract, with a $4.55 million cap hit. His contract ends after the 2025-26 season, making him an unrestricted free agent.

Insiders Pierre LeBrun and Darren Dreger noted that Andersson has become one of the most sought-after defensemen now that Quinn Hughes is off the market. They noted that Toronto’s interest is serious and stems from the team’s need for stability on the blue line.

“With Quinn Hughes off the market, Rasmus Andersson remains one of the top defensemen available ahead of the trade deadline in the new year. The Maple Leafs are one of the teams showing interest. Toronto explored a trade for Andersson at last year’s deadline, and he is believed to be open to signing an extension if a deal can be worked out. That interest points to a key question for the Leafs. Do they prioritize a top-four defenseman or a top-line winger to help get Auston Matthews back to his elite level? It remains a major decision for general manager Brad Treliving,” Leafslatest shared.

This season, Andersson has played 34 games, recording seven goals and 15 assists for 22 points. He also has a 3 plus-minus rating of 3, 38 penalty minutes, and is averaging over 24 minutes of ice time per game. He has contributed consistently in wins and losses, with 13 points in 13 victories and nine points in 21 defeats.

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Andersson himself addressed the trade rumors back in August, saying, “I have still been very appreciated in Calgary for a long time. Then some insider comes with wrong information, and then the fans believe it, because they are right about a lot of other things they do, and I understand that that is their job. But I have not given Calgary a team; I only want to sympathize with a team. That is not true. I have one year left on my contract. I’ll address that issue in a year, not today.”

The Maple Leafs now have to decide whether to focus on adding a top-four defenseman like Andersson or look for a winger to help Matthews. Both options could address different team needs, and the decision will likely define their approach for the rest of the season.