Maple Leafs Trade Rumors: Ryan O'Reilly & Luke Schenn Linked to Toronto Yet Again

Could the Toronto Maple Leafs try for a third go-round with defenseman Luke Schenn and a second-time reunion with Ryan O'Reilly? According to insider Chris Johnston, speaking on TSN Radio's Overdrive this week, both Nashville Predators would be good fits.

For Schenn, he seemed to enjoy his reunion in Toronto at the 2023 trade deadline, and he was a key contributor in the team's only playoff round victory of the past several years. Johnston figures he would be a sensible addition for the Leafs.

The defense has been better as a whole this season, (but) I feel like something's a little off and if they could get someone who could anchor the third pair on the right side, which Schenn did pretty well (in 2023)... that would make a lot of sense. So maybe there's a third go-round for Schenn in Toronto. At this stage of his career it would make sense for Nashville to move him if they could get something back for him.

Schenn, 35, was drafted 5th overall by the Leafs back in the 2005 NHL Draft and played the first four seasons of his career in Toronto. 11 years later, they re-acquired him from the Vancouver Canucks at the 2023 trade deadline for a third-round pick in that year's draft. He handed out a team-high 54 hits in 11 playoff games while registering a plus-8 rating. After the postseason, he said he'd certainly be interested in returning to the Leafs on the right deal, before eventually signing with the Predators.

As for O'Reilly, that one might be a bit more difficult to pull off, both because the Predators probably aren't anxious to give him up, as well as the fact that he wasn't really knocking down management's door to re-sign with the Leafs after his two-month experience with the team after the '23 deadline. He was also a solid contributor in the playoffs for the Buds with nine points in 11 games.

But with Toronto desperate for another solid middle-six center, the fit couldn't be better, said Johnston.

I don't know exactly how he'd feel about it, but I don't think you can rule it out as a possibility. The fit is there, certainly at this point in his career... I think it makes a lot of sense (for him to go to) a team trying to win the Cup, a competitive team. (But) I just don't think Nashville will be looking to move him.

Could the Leafs do some one-stop shopping in Nashville? It's something worth keeping an eye on.