Schenn's Heartfelt Comments Fuel Reunion Rumours; Is He Trying to Finesse His Way to the Leafs?

Winnipeg Jets defenseman Luke Schenn participating in pregame warmups ahead of their contest against the Dallas Stars.

Photo credit: James Carey Lauder – Imagn Images

Could a third stint be in the works? Luke Schenn reflects on his connection with Toronto fans as trade talks link the veteran defenseman back to the Maple Leafs.

Tonight’s game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Winnipeg Jets should be a good one, as both Canadian clubs have been playing much better hockey over the last little while.

What will also make this game a little more special is that opposite the Leafs will be defenseman Luke Schenn, who has had his name plastered in recent trade rumours alongside his brother, Brayden, as potential targets for Toronto.

Schenn, a former first round pick of the Maple Leafs all the way back in 2008, already made a return stint ahead of the 2023 trade deadline, but could the third time be a charm? In a recent sit down interview with Jay Rosehill and Nick Alberga from “The Leafs Nation” podcast, it sure seems like he wouldn’t mind the idea.

Schenn was asked about what it’s like being a member of the Maple Leafs compared to other teams, as he has been throughout his career, and he made sure to mention how amazing it was to play for the organization, primarily due to the fan base.

It’s a passionate fan base, which is awesome. I mean I’ve taken my lumps there for sure, whether in the media or the fans, but also being on the other side of it too, where they appreciate you and it’s the best feeling in the world to be a part of.

He adds that it can be very tough playing in other markets, but Toronto takes the cake, whether you’re winning or losing. Schenn intimates that it’s a city and a fanbase that you want to play for and the pros far outweigh the cons.

Philadelphia can be a hard place to play when you’re losing, Vancouver as well, but I look at the other way around, where people care so much and they pay attention. You kind of want that pressure, where people care and eat, sleep, and breathe it.

With the Leafs needing help on the back-end this season, maybe this is a prelude to a Schenn reunion. While he’s now best served as a depth defenseman, he has 39 blocked shots and 96 hits in 32 games for the Jets this season in 13:43 ATOI, and is still a reliable penalty killer.

The 36-year-old has never shied away about openly talking about his time in Toronto and how much he loved it here, so it could certainly be a great fit, and one that shouldn’t cost too much to get over the finish line.