The Toronto Maple Leafs have reportedly begun expanding their trade talks with other teams by including players with term in the discussions, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
While it is not clear which players on the Leafs’ roster are up for grabs at this stage, it certainly feels like just about everyone apart from the main nucleus could have been brought up in those discussions. That includes the likes of Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Max Domi, Dakota Joshua, Nicolas Roy, and Brand Carlo, among many others. When asked by host Ron MacLean if defenceman Morgan Rielly was brought up in the conversations, Friedman stated that while he didn’t know about Rielly’s name in particular, he did hear that the Leafs are contemplating more things in their trade talks.
Regarding Ekman-Larsson, Friedman stated that he is under the impression that the Edmonton Oilers have the Olympian on their radar.
“From what I’ve heard, I think Edmonton is looking at two possibilities: a defenseman who can play the right side — OEL has done that before — or potentially a third center, especially if Ryan Nugent-Hopkins stays on the wing,” he said. “I think they are also considering a center. They have to move Andrew Mangiapane, but those are the two positions Edmonton is considering shoring up.”
The other player who has been a popular point of discussion in trade speculation is Bobby McMann, as he is a pending UFA signed to a modest caphit and is capable of scoring 20+ goals. Friedman provided an update on the situation, stating that it’s a coin flip regarding what will happen with McMann before the deadline.
“When it comes to Bobby McMann, I’ve been told that one could go either way,” he said. “I believe there is an extension that both sides know could happen. The fact that he is still a Maple Leaf tells me that there is nothing out there that they would trade him for at this point in time. We’ll see where it goes over the next six days, but I am told that one could go in either direction.”
How things shake out throughout this coming week remains to be seen, but Friedman’s report seems to indicate that it is more than just the usual suspects that are being mentioned in trade talks.