The Toronto Maple Leafs have been living on the trade deadline carousel for years, but The Athletic’s Jonas Siegel made it pretty clear this time that every blue-line “fix” comes with a price tag that could sting in very different ways.
With injuries piling up again and Chris Tanev’s status looming large, Toronto’s need for a right-shot defender feels obvious.
Rasmus Andersson
If you’re dreaming big, Siegel framed Rasmus Andersson as the best on-ice fit and the closest thing the Maple Leafs could add to a true top-pair solution. He is a legitimate puck-mover who can defend, kill penalties, and add real offense from the back end, the kind of defender who could slide into heavy minutes beside Jake McCabe and push Morgan Rielly into a more comfortable slot.
The problem is the bill. Siegel essentially put Andersson in the “probably out of reach” category because any deal likely starts with Toronto’s best futures, and it does not stop there. Easton Cowan plus Ben Danford is the type of package that would have to be on the table, and even then you are talking about Toronto potentially adding premium picks just to get Calgary to listen.
The Calgary Flames are going to take a hit after Rasmus Andersson is traded.
Presented By | @PlatinumMitsu pic.twitter.com/6DQFGWk89I
— FlamesNation (@FlamesNation) January 11, 2026
Then comes the second punch: Andersson is going to need a new contract, and Siegel floated the idea that a long-term deal for a Toronto type of market could climb into the $8 to $9 million range. That is a massive commitment for a player turning 30 early next season, especially for a team already carrying a lot of older money on the blue line.
Justin Faulk
Siegel’s “middle swing” was Justin Faulk, and his logic was that he is a right-shot who can play big minutes and add something offensively, but the risk is baked into the age and contract.
Faulk’s deal carries a $6.5 million cap hit through 2026-27, and Siegel was not exactly selling it as a smart long-term bet for Toronto. The other issue is that St. Louis is not giving him away, and Siegel suggested the St. Louis Blues could push for a first-round caliber return because of how the market has treated right-shot defenders with term.
Justin Faulk is loudly carrying the Blues entire offense on his back this season. If the #stlblues do decide to move him, there should be multiple suitors
— Thomas Welch (@twelcher15) December 23, 2025
Toronto does not even have the flexibility to toss around firsts, and even a second-rounder plus a decent prospect starts to feel like paying a premium to inherit a mid-30s cap hit. The appeal is that Faulk could stabilize minutes immediately and help cover special teams work, but Siegel’s point was that the cost could quickly outrun the upside.
Faulk is having an excellent season offensively, recording 11 goals and 21 points across 46 games played. He’s on pace for a career high in goals.
Luke Schenn
Luke Schenn is the smaller, cheaper swing that is basically about surviving the stretch run without gutting the future. Schenn is 36, and it has not been a perfect season for him, but his contract is affordable at $2.75 million and it expires after the year, which keeps the risk contained.
Luke Schenn not on the roster but still providing the buds with excellent defense pic.twitter.com/YS6EUjAkwd
— Grins Above Replacement (@GrinsAbove) January 10, 2026
Siegel’s projected cost also lands in a far more palatable range, closer to a mid-to-late pick instead of Toronto’s best prospects, and the idea is not that Schenn turns the Maple Leafs into a powerhouse.
It’s that he gives them a sturdier NHL option than the current depth mix, and if he can recreate even some of the chemistry he previously had with Rielly, Toronto gets a functional pairing without lighting a match to the organization’s remaining assets.
In 30 games with the Winnipeg Jets this season, Schenn has recorded one goal, five points, a -4 plus/minus rating, 35 blocked shots, and 88 hits.
Photo Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images