The Toronto Maple Leafs are shaping up to be a team to watch this offseason, as they’re expected to undergo some significant roster changes.
Using PuckPedia’s PuckGM simulator, one fan proposed an intriguing trade idea that would send defenseman Filip Hronek from the Vancouver Canucks to Toronto.
Proposed Trade:
To Maple Leafs:
- Filip Hronek
- 2025 fourth-round pick (via Ottawa)
To Canucks:
- Morgan Rielly
- Nick Robertson
This hypothetical deal would be a noteworthy shakeup. Toronto would acquire Hronek, a 6-foot right-shot defenseman entering the second season of his eight-year, $58 million contract. He’s projected as a solid second-pair option and tallied 5 goals and 28 assists (33 points) in 61 games last season.
In exchange, the Canucks would receive veteran Morgan Rielly, a British Columbia native, which could make a homecoming appealing. Rielly has five years remaining on his eight-year, $60 million deal and posted 41 points (7 goals, 34 assists) in a full 82-game season. He would bring more offensive potential to Vancouver’s blue line.
The trade also includes Nick Robertson, a pending restricted free agent who has struggled to find consistency with Toronto. A change of scenery could benefit him, and he could slot into the Canucks’ middle six after a season in which he registered 15 goals and 7 assists in 69 games.
Leafs GM Treliving Comfortable With Defensive Core
After the Maple Leafs were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs, general manager Brad Treliving acknowledged the need for change but emphasized his satisfaction with the team’s defense.
“I like the length of our defense, I like the makeup of our defense,” Treliving said. “But we still need more offense from our blueline—not just goals, but generating more play overall.”
While Treliving noted the team can’t be inflexible, he expressed optimism about the current group, which includes Chris Tanev, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Brandon Carlo.
Trade Buzz Around Rielly Persists
Despite holding a full no-movement clause and expressing a desire to remain in Toronto, Morgan Rielly continues to be floated as a trade possibility. NHL insider Frank Seravalli recently suggested the Maple Leafs should seriously consider moving on from Rielly.
“Toronto needs a puck-moving defenseman who can break the puck out cleanly,” Seravalli wrote. “Rielly’s game has slowed, and though he’s been surprisingly solid in the playoffs, he no longer fits the bill as a top power play quarterback. The Leafs should act before his contract becomes a problem.”
Rielly, drafted fifth overall in 2012, has spent his entire NHL career with Toronto. But with changes expected, his future with the team remains uncertain.
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