San Jose Sharks & Toronto Maple Leafs Emerging as Trade Partners
The San Jose Sharks are selling, the Toronto Maple Leafs are buying - there's a very good chance these two teams make a pre-trade deadline deal together.
Sharks GM Mike Grier has been busy throughout this season, moving Mackenzie Blackwood, Mikael Granlund and Cody Ceci. Grier is not finished. Two names to keep an eye on are Luke Kunin up front, and Jake Walman on the back end. They'd be exactly what the doctor ordered in Toronto, and Maple Leafs' GM has to assets to make a deal happen. Treliving doesn't appear to be interested in trading the Leafs' 2026 first-round pick, as the draft is expected to be one of the decade's best, but, Treliving could move one of prospects Topi Niemela, Easton Cowan or Fraser Minten.
As for the Sharks, Grier is likely to move Kunin, Walman, and fellow defenseman Mario Ferraro. The Sharks continue their rebuild and have some great pieces in place to contend, but unfortunately for their fanbase, not anytime soon.
Yanni Gourde is injured, which broke my heart. Jason Dickinson is hurt, Brock Nelson is gonna be expensive, and I think the Dylan Cozens stuff is a distraction.
— Steve “Dangle” Glynn (@Steve_Dangle) February 6, 2025
I have decided to become a Luke Kunin truther.
The Maple Leafs are looking to add a 2C or 3C to their lineup, Kunin would slot in the on the third line. Meanwhile, Treliving is trying to also land a top-four two-way d-man, and Walman would be a great option to be thrown on their power-play, and give the Leafs a chance to move Morgan Rielly down the depth chart.
Leafs and Sharks, already completed one deal around Timothy Liljegren earlier this season, there could be another one coming before March 7.
Photo credit: Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images
