NHL Insider Mentions Two Interesting Trade Targets In Connection to Maple Leafs

On Monday, the Toronto Maple Leafs inched closer towards finalizing their roster for the start of the 2025-26 season, but when looking at the full NHL roster and seeing Bobby McMann in the top-6, it became clear that the team could still use a bit of a forward upgrade.

Last week, GM Brad Treliving confirmed that his team is still searching for a top-6 forward, but did also mention that he's not quite sure who that is and what the cost of acquisition will be.

The timing of his comments interestingly coincide with recent comments made by TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston, who suggested that the Boston Bruins and New York Islanders both have players that they may be interested in moving this year.

Per Johnston, Pavel Zacha and Bo Horvat are two players who could move this season, and he mentioned the Leafs by name as one of the teams who could potentially take a swing.

Johnston also listed Montreal and Vancouver as teams who are also looking to add, so there's a chance that if these players are made available, the Leafs will have some stiff competition.

Treliving also has a pretty big issue to contend with as his team does not have a lot of draft capital and limited young trade assets, aside from Nick Robertson, who may not carry a whole lot of value as the centerpiece of a deal, but who could still add some value as a part of a larger package.

Other than Robertson, the Leafs do have their 2028 1st round pick available, 2025 2nd round pick Tinus-Luc Koblar, and even a quality goalie prospect like Dennis Hildeby or Artur Akhtyamov that they can dangle as potential pieces in a package for an impact player.

Ben Danford and Easton Cowan are also quality pieces, but after standout training camps and a lot of praise for both from Leafs coach Craig Berube and GM Brad Treliving, the Leafs may view them as untouchables.

While the Leafs would like to add to the roster sooner than later, with teams still figuring out what their rosters look like, it appears far more likely at this point that they don't get a deal done for an impact piece until closer to the trade deadline.