Photo credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
According to several different reports, the Edmonton Oilers have asked about two other Maple Leafs on the market as trade rumours start to ramp up even more.
Now is the best time for the Toronto Maple Leafs to figure out what direction they want to go this season. With a couple weeks to figure things out, they need to decide whether to buy low for a playoff push or sell high in the hopes of recouping some assets.
The biggest rumour that we’ve heard so far is the Edmonton Oilers were looking at forward Bobby McMann to add even more speed and scoring to a potent lineup, however that doesn’t mean they haven’t checked in on some others.
Edmonton checking in on more than just McMann
David Pagnotta revealed that the Oilers do have interest in McMann, though were also looking at two other potential options they could pry from the Maple Leafs.
Pagnotta was speaking with Jeff Marek on The Sheet and revealed the Oilers and Maple Leafs were discussing something regarding both Nicolas Roy and Oliver Ekman-Larsson:
This is coupled with Elliotte Friedman’s report that the Maple Leafs were starting to gain interest from teams regarding the two players, and it seems like contenders are trying to get a much better idea of what a trade might cost.
Toronto can’t afford to mess up a potential trade, and with the potential to get upwards of a first-round pick (possibly two) in separate deals then it would be a huge coup for a team who can’t seem to keep hold of their own assets.
Why contenders like Edmonton would pay for Maple Leafs veterans
Ekman-Larsson, 34, has tried his best to put in a vintage performance this season and while he has cooled off slightly and his defense has taken a bit of a hit; he’s still been fantastic overall.
In 57 games, OEL has 34 points (8 goals, 26 assists) to go along with a minus-one, 48 blocks and 69 hits in 20:45 TOI. With him making a fairly reasonable amount of money and a Stanley Cup win under his belt, a team like Edmonton could use him as a great piece for the postseason.
He would be able to help settle down Darnell Nurse a bit, and could form a solid 1-2 punch with Evan Bouchard as offensive catalysts for the Oilers.
Roy would give the Oilers a huge defensive boost up the middle, and again brings a Stanley Cup winning pedigree though the Maple Leafs may want to make sure if they do trade him; they get the most for him.
Roy is someone who Toronto can actually keep in the lineup for the foreseeable future, and at only 28 with a bargain deal, he would be a great 3C to help mentor Jacob Quillan (who likely replaces a potentially traded Scott Laughton).
If Toronto makes a splash this summer for a 2C and feels like John Tavares should be the 3C instead, then perhaps they may decide to dangle Roy in the summer or at the draft.
In 54 games, Roy has 20 points (5 goals, 15 assists), a plus-two, 58 hits, 26 blocks and has won 53.6% of his face-offs in only 14:41 TOI.
If the Oilers do make a deal for either of these players, Toronto will have to acknowledge they aren’t getting a 2026 first-rounder although they may be able to get a couple second or thirds for this year too.
Using those as assets to kickstart a quicker retool so management can keep happy is not a bad way to go about things especially since this season has been so disappointing.
But whatever the case, all eyes are going to be on the Maple Leafs with the question being: Which domino falls first?
Previously on Hockey Patrol