Simon Edvinsson Could Be Maple Leafs’ Next Big Trade Target
· Yahoo Sports
The Toronto Maple Leafs‘ blockbuster deal to bring in Kirill Marchenko on the eve of the regular season sent shockwaves throughout the league. The flashy Russian has already shown his chops with some invigorating play for the Buds. But it wasn’t even 24 hours after that deal that rumors already began to fly about general manager John Chayka looking to make yet another move to bolster the Leafs lineup. This time, on the back end.
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And the GM didn’t exactly deny it.
Maple Leafs GM John Chayka says the team is always looking to improve and remains open to adding in different areas, including on defense, though adding that he wants to see the current group have time to show what they can do while he continues to have conversations
— Leafslatest (@Leafslatest) October 3, 2026
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“As we work through a season and continue to evaluate different ways in which we can improve, we’re always going to be open to adding in different areas,” Chayka said, “Defense could be one, but at the same time, I think we need to give this group some time to show us where they’re at and what they can do.
“From our side, we’re always having conversations with different managers. We feel like we have enough future capital. My job is always to build the best possible team today with an eye for the future.”
Now that it’s been reported that Detroit Red Wings’ unsigned restricted free agent Simon Edvinsson“prefers” to be traded rather than to re-sign with the team, rumors have immediately linked the Leafs to the burgeoning 23-year-old 6’6″ star defenseman.
It seems like a tall order (excuse the pun), as the Red Wings would need an absolute haul to part with the top-pairing blueliner. But we’ve seen thus far that Chayka is not averse to making big splashes. And with mobility and puck-movers on the blueline high on the GM’s wish list, Edvinsson would be the ideal target.
Do the Leafs have the assets to make an Edvinsson deal?
Ah, yes. But then we come to that “absolute haul” part of the whole thing. After trading Matthew Knies—their No. 1 trade chip—to get Marchenko, the Leafs’ cupboard is fairly bereft of enticing pieces.
Oh, there’s developing blueliner Ben Danford, a 6’2″, 20-year-old right-shot d-man toiling away at the AHL level with the Marlies. 20-year-old Czech prospect Miroslav Holinka tore it up with the Edmonton Oil Kings in juniors last year and is rocketing up the Toronto prospect ranks. There’s the Colorado Avalanche’s first-round pick in next year’s draft that Toronto owns. And then there’s……. Um, yeah, that would be the extent of their desirable trade pieces. Aside from Easton Cowan, who, we’re pretty sure at this point, is not on the table in any discussions.
Chayka has been a magician thus far, completely revamping the Toronto lineup with an aggressive first few months on the big stage. Can he somehow pull another rabbit out of his hat with Edvinsson?
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