Insiders Drop Top 10 List of Maple Leafs Center Trade Targets

The entire National Hockey League knows that the Toronto Maple Leafs are in the market to add a center. Not that it was necessary in order to see it, but the absences of Auston Matthews (earlier, twice) and John Tavares (currently) have made it painfully obvious that the team needs help in the pivot.

As GM Brad Treliving continues to do his due process on the trade market for centermen, Jonas Siegel and Chris Johnston of The Athletic have proposed a Top 10 list—ranked based on fit and the Leafs' ability to actually acquire them—of center trade targets:

Ryan O'Reilly, Nashville Predators
Brock Nelson, New York Islanders
Yanni Gourde, Seattle Kraken
Trent Frederic, Boston Bruins
Charlie Coyle, Boston Bruins
Mikael Granlund, San Jose Sharks
Scott Laughton, Philadelphia Flyers
Nick Bjugstad, Utah Hockey Club
Nazem Kadri, Calgary Flames
Ryan Strome, Anaheim Ducks

Make no mistake, most of these would make for a great fit for Toronto to head down the stretch with and into the playoffs, but let's assess some of them:

The name at the very top of this list, while he certainly would be an ideal fit, seems like a long shot to return to the Leafs. Yes, he was a great addition at the 2023 trade deadline, proving leadership and offense in helping the Buds earn their first playoff series win in nearly 20 years. But he left as a free agent that summer for Nashville even though the Leafs tried to retain him.

Now, the Predators say they will treat O'Reilly as if he has a no-move clause so he would have to approve of any trade. Based on that intel, we just don't see it happening.

Nelson would be another great fit—his size, his playoff scoring acumen and his leadership would make for a tremendous add. But the Islanders' reticence to commit to moving him and his $6M cap hit could make it tricky.

Gourde could go one of two ways if he is brought in: provide a gritty, proven playoff game, or continue his downward trend into injury and declining production.

Frederic, one would have to think, would be someone that head coach Craig Berube would love to add to the Leafs lineup. His size and physicality would make Ryan Reaves an afterthought. But Frederic, too, is having a down year, at least offensively. And would the Bruins really want to send him to their bitter rivals and a team they just might face in the first round of the playoffs?

The other name farther down the list that would seem to be exactly what Toronto needs going into the playoffs (assuming he avoided any suspensions) is Nazem Kadri. However, it doesn't sound like the Flames are willing to trade him, as they are trying to make a push for the postseason themselves.

Honorable mention names who Siegel and Johnston place as less-likely targets, due to price tag, contract situation, or other reasons include Jake Evans, Michael McCarron, Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Alexander Wennberg.