The exorbitant price for potential third line center for Toronto Maple Leafs revealed by NHL insider
NHL insider Darren Dreger revealed today what it would cost the Toronto Maple Leafs to acquire Blues captain Brayden Schenn.
Yesterday, NHL insider Darren Dreger revealed that St. Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong was shopping his captain Brayden Schenn.
In that report, Dreger noted that Armstrong would only consider trading the 33-year-old center if the return was, 'mammoth.'
Today, Dreger added to this discussion by specifically talking about how this affects the Toronto Maple Leafs.
After all, the Leafs are one of several teams that are reportedly in the market for another center right now.
Center depth is often a critical factor in the playoffs, so it stands to reason why Brad Treliving would want to shore up his team in that position.
While Schenn might be a good fit to play on the team's 3rd line, the cost could prove to be prohibitive as Dreger points out.
"I won't throw out names from Toronto's standpoint because I don't think they have the assets to approach that negotiation, but I would look at a top young prospect, maybe another top prospect from the AHL and a top draft pick.
If I'm [GM Doug] Armstrong and you want to convince me to move my captain with a pretty good deal, you have to make it worth my while and that's essentially what it might take."
If I'm [GM Doug] Armstrong and you want to convince me to move my captain with a pretty good deal, you have to make it worth my while and that's essentially what it might take."
For the Leafs, this would probably mean trading away a prospect like Easton Cowan or Fraser Minten, another less notable prospect like Nikita Grebenkin or Topi Niemelä as well as a first round pick in 2026 or 2027.
The Leafs already traded their 2025 1st round pick as well as their second-round picks in both 2025 and 2026.
They do own Florida's 2nd round pick this season, but it sounds like a second-rounder might not be enough to get this deal done.
Any way you look at it, that is a steep price to pay for a 33-year-old 3rd-line center, especially considering how high the Leafs are on both Cowan and Minten.
As such, it seems like the Leafs may have to look elsewhere to find their next center.
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