Maple Leafs Could Look to Reunite Auston Matthews With Former USHL Teammate

It's no secret that the Toronto Maple Leafs want to improve their offensive game by adding a top-6 forward after the loss of Mitch Marner. GM Brad Treliving is reportedly working the phones, but it's currently radio silent on the trade front.

There were a slew of forwards that were available before the draft, but things have dried up since. However, NHL insiders believe that trade season should be opening up very soon.

If true, that should work in Toronto's favour, and one player they should be targeting is Troy Terry out of Anaheim.

The soon-to-be 28-year-old has scored 116 goals and 285 points in 427 games across parts of 8 seasons with the Ducks. Most notably he scored 37 goals and 67 points in 2021-22 and has remained a consistent threat with 3 straight 54+ point seasons since.

Terry is reportedly on the block and carries a cap hit of $7 million per season through the end of the 2029-30 season with a modified NTC. However, that shouldn't be too much of a concern, considering his past relationship with Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews.

The two forwards came through the U.S. National Development Program when they were teammates in 2014-15 and have remained relatively close since.

With Marner departing for greener pastures, and Terry more than likely looking for the same, there's a vacancy in Toronto's top-6 with his name written all over it. If it happens, Matthews will be overjoyed.

It remains to be seen what it would cost to get Terry out of Anaheim, but if the reports are true that Toronto could be looking to dangle a defensemen in exchange for a top-6 forward, then they might now have a surplus at the position after acquiring Henry Thrun from the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night.

The Leafs could use Brandon Carlo as a trade piece, and considering the Ducks' style of play, it could be a perfect fit. As for the Leafs, they would find themselves with a suitable replacement for Marner on the first line and top power play unit for the foreseeable future.