3 Maple Leafs’ Trade Targets From Canadiens-Sabres Game

Evans would be a rental for the Maple Leafs unless they were to re-sign the forward as he hits unrestricted free agency at the end of this season. As for what it would cost to get him, so long as the Maple Leafs could move a small chunk of their salary, they wouldn’t need anyone to retain anything as he’s making just $1.7 million.

A smallish forward, Evans could compliment any line on the Maple Leafs roster. He kills penalties and his speed makes him a threat both at five-on-five and while shorthanded. While he would make a solid depth centre for the Maple Leafs, Evans does have the versatility to also play on the wing which could further benefit the Maple Leafs. To add to it, Evans would make for a good depth option beyond this season if the Maple Leafs do pull the trigger on a move to acquire him and proceed to offer him an extension.

Mike Matheson, Montreal Canadiens

There’s a part of me that is leaning towards David Savard as another possible acquisition for the Maple Leafs from the Canadiens. However, he’s three years older than 31-year-old Mike Matheson and has one less season under contract which makes Matheson a little more appealing.

Matheson is signed through 2025-26 at $4.875 million which might seem a little steep for the Maple Leafs. That said, with what he brings to the table, Brad Treliving and the Maple Leafs could be willing to add a third party into this deal to have some salary retained for the final year of his contract. After all, Matheson brings physicality and strong leadership to an already impressive back end for the Maple Leafs.

While the addition of Matheson would likely mean the end of Simon Benoit or Philippe Myers with the team, the current Canadiens assistant captain would be a playoff calibre add for the blue and white.

Matheson had 62 points last season in 82 games for the Canadiens and is sitting at 28 through 59 games this season. But he’s a big minute guy on the back end and adds more mobility to the Maple Leafs blue line. Matheson is averaging almost 25 minutes per game for the Canadiens this season and while he likely wouldn’t get as much ice-time coming to Toronto, he would certainly be a key role player come playoff time.

Don’t forget, the Maple Leafs would get one more season out of him too if they were able to acquire the defenceman.

Henri Jokiharju, Buffalo Sabres

Finally, another decision that was a struggle was choosing between who they would target on the Sabres. It came down to two defensemen in Henri Jokiharju and Connor Clifton. While Clifton had one season after 2024-25 at an annual average value (AAV) of $3.33 million, Jokiharju is another young, underrated option at just 25 years old with unrestricted free agency just around the corner.

Now, Jokiharju would require some kind of salary movement or retention as his AAV is $3.1 million this season. That’s something the Maple Leafs could make happen. While Jokiharju isn’t an offensive juggernaut, he does play a strong third-pairing role, something the Maple Leafs have discussed in adding heading into the deadline.

He’s averaging just over 16 minutes in 42 games this season and has given way to the younger talent on the Sabres blue line this season. But that doesn’t mean that Jokiharju can’t be productive in his own end. He’s had a Corsi For Percentage (CF%) of 50 percent this season in his 42 games and an acquisition of this type would fill one of Treliving’s deadline desires – depth on the back end.

Either way, the NHL Trade Deadline is just under 72 hours away and the Maple Leafs will be looking to add as their rivals seem to be getting ready for their postseason pushes as well. If it’s not one of these three players, it could be someone else from somewhere else, but expect Treliving to be busy working the phones.

Surely the Maple Leafs will have scouts in other arenas as the clock winds down, but until moves are finalized, no one truly knows what to expect from the blue and white.