Photo credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
With all the discussion about the Maple Leafs and a potential retool, a new face has come into the fold who could help them both now and going forward.
Toronto is on a bit of a break right now thanks to the 2026 Olympics although that doesn’t mean the work is going to stop as Brad Treliving and company are no doubt working hard to figure out potential deals for their top assets.
Though management might be thinking differently, if the team does decide to retool they may not want to risk a full on rebuild which may lead to them losing a playoff spot (and potentially lots of money), so they are going to need players who can help impact things now and in the future.
They have been linked to two St. Louis Blues forwards in Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou, not to mention there are still players like Nick Schmaltz and Jared McCann who could bring a lot of offensive help.
Brock Boeser appears in trade talks as Canucks rebuild in full swing
Though there’s one name who is coming up in trade discussions who would be a great fit for Toronto while also giving them a player they can build around.
According to a report from Thomas Drance of The Athletic, the Vancouver Canucks could look to deal Brock Boeser — and do so with haste:
Among this veteran group…I sense that Conor Garland…and Brock Boeser should be considered the most likely of Vancouver’s veteran players who could realistically be moved before the deadline.
Why Toronto and Brock Boeser makes sense
He’s a perennial 20-goal scorer, has hit the 40-goal mark before, is a solid playmaker, can play defense, hit, and doesn’t take a lot of penalties. He can play both special teams units and will fit in on either the first or second line.
He does make a fair bit of money but nowhere near some of the contracts the Maple Leafs already have, and if reports are correct then they could have an influx of cap space thanks to a Morgan Rielly deal.
If Toronto were to make a deal, they are going to need to send a decent chunk of money out, while also giving Vancouver some veteran bodies to fill the lineup while they continue their rebuild.
How would that work out? Let’s take a look at a potential deal:
(F) Max Domi
(F) Calle Jarnkrok
(F) Steven Lorentz
2027 3rd-round pick
That’s a lot of bodies leaving Toronto but it’s not only necessary but it helps the Maple Leafs bring in some of their young guns to patrol the bottom six.
Domi gives Vancouver a top-six veteran who can help Elias Pettersson find the scoresheet a bit more.
Meanwhile Jarnkrok and Lorentz are solid bottom-six options who have minimal cap and commitment (Jarnkrok) or someone who is able to give you a lot of hitting, defense, and also plays center at an above average rate.
Boeser makes $7.25-million until 2032, and he would provide a fairly bargain option with the rising cap as that contract becomes cheaper over time, and he’s here for the next six years.
But if you combine Domi, Jarnkrok, and Lorentz’s salary, it comes to $7.2-million; pretty much exactly Boeser’s hit. The money works, and both Toronto and Vancouver get what they need.
For his career, Boeser has 459 points in 604 games (216 goals, 243 assists) while adding 354 hits, 221 blocks, and only 148 PIM but does come with a minus-63 rating; not helped at all by Vancouver’s struggles over the past few seasons.
If the Maple Leafs management is worried about losing out on a playoff spot thanks to a retool, they can still end up with a big piece who can help them avoid a long-term project and be around for years to come.
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Toronto Maple Leafs deal for Brock Boeser in a hypothetical trade proposal
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