Like the previous board, the same 13 Maple Leafs cracked the list. Tier one consisted of an elevated Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who was previously placed in tier two, Bobby McMann, Simon Benoit, Scott Laughton, Brandon Carlo, Calle Järnkrok and a bumped up Nicolas Roy. Nick Robertson, Max Domi, Matias Maccelli, Anthony Stolarz and Troy Stecher found themselves in tier two. Morgan Rielly found a spot in the fourth tier.
Ekman-Larsson would represent a major move by Maple Leafs management. Currently making $3.5 million per year through the 2027-28 season, moving Ekman-Larsson could initiate a more rebuild-oriented approach than a retool philosophy. Through 61 games played this season, Ekman-Larsson has recorded eight goals and 27 assists, currently in the midst of his best offensive season since 2018-19. With a 16-team trade protection, he has some say in whether or not he will be a Maple Leaf past 3:00 p.m. EST on March 6.
How “over” is it for the Treliving-era Leafs? If it’s “retool and reload,” you retain ‘OEL,’ who has two years left at an excellent price and has become a crucially malleable member of the D-corps. But if it’s “scorched earth” over, the Leafs would be wise to sell high given Ekman-Larsson has reached his mid-30s. He could fetch a nice return with his two extra years of term. -Larkin
The writing has been on the wall for weeks with McMann. A pending unrestricted free agent with 32 points in 60 games, the 29-year-old could fetch the best return among Maple Leafs rentals. Benoit continues to bring a physical element to the Maple Leafs lineup, currently leading the team with 141 hits. Under contract for the remainder of this season and next at $1.35 million, Benoit could represent a cheap upgrade for a team looking to add some grit come playoff time. Laughton, like McMann, is also a pending UFA at season’s end. With a cap hit of $1.5 million and strong penalty killing ability, Laughton could be a nice upgrade for a team looking to add to their bottom-six forward group prior to the playoffs.
Carlo has struggled with the Maple Leafs since being acquired at last year’s deadline. Appearing in only 38 games this season, he has recorded five assists. Järnkrok was scratched again this week, continuing to struggle to stay in the lineup this season. Through 38 games, the pending UFA has recorded six goals and one assist. Roy, brought in from Vegas as the player from the Mitch Marner sign-and-trade, has appeared in 58 games, scoring five goals and adding 15 assists.
Robertson was scratched on Monday night against the Philadelphia Flyers after Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube felt the forward’s game had dropped off. A restricted free agent after this year, Robertson has posted 26 points in 57 games. Domi has totalled 31 points through 59 games, looking strong at times, while lost at others, highlighted by his minus-20 plus-minus rating.
Maccelli was acquired from the Utah Mammoth this past summer and has recorded 26 points in 50 games. Stolarz, who was signed to a four-year, $15 million extension in September, feels like a long shot to be moved. Through 19 games, Stolarz has gone 7-8-2, with a 3.40 goals-against average and 0.887 save percentage. Stecher was a mid-season waiver claim from the Edmonton Oilers. A recent healthy scratch, Stecher has appeared in 41 games, recording three goals and eight assists.
Moving Rielly is going to be tough. The defenceman is set to make $7.5 million until the end of the 2029-30 season, with a full no-move for the next three years. In 58 games, Rielly has recorded eight goals and 24 assists, with a plus-minus rating of minus-18.