Nobody around the hockey world is quite sure what to expect from the Toronto Maple Leafs ahead of the trade deadline. Less than a week ago, they appeared headed toward being full-blown sellers after a six-game losing streak, watching their season start to slip away. Fast forward three games later, and they’ve won three straight, making a case that they’re still very much in the playoff mix.
Because of that, GM Brad Treliving could end up both buying and selling in an effort to give his team a chance to make a late postseason push while also improving the franchise’s long-term outlook. As a result, younger players with term fit the mold as potential targets, and according to insider David Pagnotta, Jordan Kyrou is one they’ve already explored.
In his latest trade board, Pagnotta had Kyrou listed at number 30, with Toronto among five teams linked, along with Seattle, Detroit, Montreal, and Utah.
“The Blues continue to listen on Kyrou, who has a full no-trade clause. There are some who suggest he is willing to accept a trade for the right situation, but St. Louis doesn’t have to pull the trigger on a deal before the deadline as Kyrou is under contract for another five seasons,”
The 27-year-old Kyrou is in year three of the eight-year, $65 million extension signed with the Blues in 2022, which includes the aforementioned full no-movement clause through 2029-30. He’s produced 30 points (12 goals, 18 assists) in 46 games played this season.
Jordan Kyrou Is the Type of Talent Toronto Needs
After years of being stacked with superstar talent, the Maple Leafs are actually in a place where they could now use an injection of high-end skill into their lineup.
Kyrou Maple Leafs trade
Mitch Marner’s departure to Vegas, along with John Tavares now being 35, has left the bulk of the load on the shoulders of Auston Matthews and William Nylander. While they’re very capable of carrying it, adding a player like Kyrou—a consistent 70-point producer as a Blue—would provide much-needed firepower to the top six.
The Toronto, Ontario native would need to waive his no-trade clause to join his hometown team, though it’s fair to assume he’d be willing to do so, as Pagnotta suggested. Beyond that, the only obstacles are how things ended between Kyrou and HC Craig Berube in St. Louis and the potential return package GM Doug Armstrong would demand for his star winger.
Those issues would obviously need to be resolved before Treliving could pull the trigger, but everything about Kyrou screams “good fit” for the Maple Leafs, so they should be willing to get creative in pursuit of getting a deal done.
Next: Analyst Pegs Other Maple Leafs Pending UFA as Perfect Fit for the Oilers
