3 potential trade destinations for Maple Leafs’ Calle Jarnkrok

In an ideal world, the Toronto Maple Leafs would like to add a top-six forward before next season. In order to do so, it could mean general manager Brad Treliving makes a trade to create some more financial flexibility, which means veteran forward Calle Jarnkrok could be on the way out.

Jarnkrok, who turns 34 ahead of next season, has one season left on his contract paying him $2.1 million AAV. He owns a 10-team no-trade clause, which gives him some say in the matter should Treliving try and move him this summer. Last season, he battled through some injury troubles and only appeared in 19 regular season games for the Maple Leafs, scoring just once and adding six assists.

When the Stanley Cup Playoffs rolled around, Jarnkrok was still trying to find his legs, unfortunately, and didn’t make a huge impact in either the first round against the Ottawa Senators, or second round against the Florida Panthers. He posted just one assist in 13 playoff games, and averaged 12:39 of ice-time per game.

As the offseason continues, trade talks are heating up in Toronto, and there’s certainly a legitimate chance Jarnkrok is involved. Here’s three potential trade destinations should Treliving move him.

Winnipeg Jets

The Jets have had an interesting offseason. They added hometown product Jonathan Toews to slot in as their second or third-line centre, meanwhile saw Nik Ehlers and Mason Appleton depart via free agency. Jarnkrok could be a great replacement for Appleton in Winnipeg.

The Jets should be interested in Jarnkrok’s versatility. He’s shown in the past he’s capable of playing down the middle, or on either wing, and with the Maple Leafs, slotting in on all four lines. Like Appleton, He kills penalties, can play with high energy on the forecheck, and a more defensive role, which the Jets need more of among their bottom six.

Jets’ GM Kevin Cheveldayoff has $19.9 million in cap space to work with, so there’s lots of resources to fit Jarnkrok in under the cap. It’s going to come down to if Treliving is looking to just dump the salary, or try and get a mid-level prospect, or mid-round draft pick in return. If he’s just looking to rid himself of the $2.4 million, the Jets seem like a logical choice as a trade partner.

Seattle Kraken

The Kraken know Jarnkrok well, he played 49 games for them back in 2021-22, scoring 26 points before being traded to the Calgary Flames for three draft picks. Ironically enough, Treliving was running the Flames at that point and could now be involved with getting Jarnkrok back to Seattle.

The Kraken have shown they are trying to improve for next season. They’ve already acquired Mason Marchment from the Dallas Stars in what was essentially a salary dump move by Dallas, and now they could turn to the Maple Leafs to add Jarnkrok to their bottom six. Marchment, like Jarnkrok, has just one year left on his deal, so there’s limited long-term risk involved in the addition, and it’s more so, how much can we improve our forward group heading into next season.

The Kraken still have close to $11 million in cap space, and with two fourth-round draft picks in 2026, perhaps the Maple Leafs could land one of these picks in exchange for the veteran forward. Keep an eye on the Kraken, they have Kaapo Kakko to sign long term, but besides that, there’s no much left to do for internal business, which means Seattle could be in the market for external help once again this offseason.

Anaheim Ducks

Ducks GM Pat Verbeek has been busy this summer trying to move the needle with his roster. He’d like his team to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs as soon as next season, and by adding Joel Quenneville behind the bench, Chris Kreider and Mikael Granlund up front, and by moving goaltender John Gibson to the Red Wings, it’s obvious Verbeek is open for business.

Anaheim has almost $29 million in cap space left to work with this offseason, there’s still plenty of room to add Jarnkrok. Anaheim desperately needs to improve their penalty kill, which ranked among the worst in the NHL last season, and the Leafs forward can help in that regard. Jarnkrok has averaged 1:39 per game killing penalties throughout his entire career, and would give the Ducks another option shorthanded.

With Jarnkrok just having the one year left on his deal, it makes him a low-risk, high-reward type of addition, who could come in and make an impact for the Ducks’ bottom six. He should be back to 100% health by training camp, and there’s certainly a chance he could bounce back and be a much more impactful depth forward, which unfortunately wasn’t the case down the stretch with the Maple Leafs last season. The Ducks also have two fourth-round draft picks next season, perhaps Verbeek would be interested in parting with one to land a versatile forward with 718 regular season games, and another 105 playoff games under his belt.

Keep on eye on Treliving over the course of these next few weeks. There’s been rumblings about finding an impact forward, and in order to do so, the Leafs’ GM should create some more cap flexibility, so Toronto enters next season in a better financial state, with hopefully, and improved roster.