5 middle-six centres the Maple Leafs should inquire about on trade market

Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving could be active on the trade market this summer, and it’s quite likely he’s targeting some depth at centre ice. Even with Auston Matthews, Max Domi, David Kampf, and Scott Laughton in the mix next season, and the potential of John Tavares re-signing, look for Treliving to make some calls on some established centres to help create more depth for the Leafs’ forwards.

Changing the DNA of the roster is something that’s made its rounds for a few weeks now in Toronto, and Treliving has the opportunity to do so this summer by making a bold trade for help down the middle of the ice. Yes, he’ll need to get very creative to complete a transaction, as the cupboards are quite bare organizationally when it comes to trade assets, but that doesn’t mean for a second he won’t step up to a team’s asking price if it means the Leafs land a significant upgrade for their lineup.

Here’s five middle-six centres the Maple Leafs should be making calls on:

Steven Stamkos, Nashville Predators

Stamkos had a decent season in his first year in Nashville, but the team struggled to make the playoffs, and now there’s been some rumblings that major changes could be coming to their roster this summer. Stamkos scored 27 goals and 53 points last season, and would give the Maple Leafs a Stanley Cup winner, and someone the franchise has coveted for almost a decade. Stamkos has a no-movement clause, so it will take some convincing, which could come from one of his best buddies in John Tavares, as the two have been close for quite some time.

Stamkos can play down the middle, he can slide over to the wing, he gives the power play another weapon, and is a proven winner who knows what it takes to get over the hump. The Maple Leafs are in win-now mode, so adding a 35-year-old shouldn’t be out of the question. If the Predators decide to sell off some assets this summer, Treliving should be inquiring about Stamkos’s willingness to come north of the border.

Jared McCann, Seattle Kraken

McCann has been tied to the Maple Leafs since the expansion draft, and will likely forever be the ‘one who got away’. No wonder Kyle Dubas isn’t leading the team anymore, after protecting Justin Holl instead of McCann, who scored 22 goals and 61 points last season. McCann hit 40 goals three years ago, and while he’s not a huge body at 6-foot-1, his versatility, and finishing abilities are something that should be appealing to Treliving and company.

The Kraken are in a weird spot. They’ve added Mason Marchment, someone the Leafs had a trade offer on, and there’s some speculation they could be interested in making more deals to revamp their roster. Makes you wonder if they’ve had any interest in Morgan Rielly, who is from the west coast and if there’s anywhere he approves a deal to, feels like the Canucks and Kraken could be two candidates.

Back to McCann, he has two years left at $5 million AAV, and owns a 10-team no-trade clause. At 29 years old, he’s in the prime of his career and could slot in as the second-line centre, pushing Tavares down to the three hole, or giving the organization someone to replace the former captain with. McCann also kills penalties, which shouldn’t go unnoticed since the Leafs are losing their best penalty killer in Marner this summer, and will need to reinforce both sides of special teams, and McCann provides that, and much more.

Brayden Schenn, St Louis Blues

Schenn’s name was rampant through the trade rumors prior to the deadline, and usually when there’s smoke there’s fire, so there’s certainly potential his name gets discussed at the NHL Draft, or into free agency. Schenn’s a perfect complement to the Leafs’ lineup, as someone Craig Berube is very familiar with, and someone he keeps in high regard. There was no shortage of trade interest from Treliving prior to the trade deadline, so these conversations could easily be re-ignited.

The 33-year-old centre has three seasons left on his contract at a very reasonable $6.5 million AAV, he owns a 15-team no-trade clause, but considering he can ask his brother Luke what it’s like to play in Toronto, and he knows what he’s getting with Berube behind the bench, if the Leafs make a good enough offer, it feels like Schenn approves the move.

Schenn scored 50 points in 82 games last season, the third straight year he’s played all 82 games, which is saying something considering his style of play. He’s not afraid to drop the gloves, he landed 193 hits last season, while blocking 55 shots, and winning 52% of his faceoffs. Schenn would give the Leafs second power-play unit a boost, while also being a depth penalty killing option moving forward as well. There’s a lot to like about the add, and Schenn definitely helps change the DNA of the hockey club.

Charlie Coyle, Colorado Avalanche

Coyle’s name is reportedly surfaced in some trade conversations from onlooking teams, but there’s no rush for the Avalanche, even with just $1.2 million in cap space heading into the offseason. Coyle would give the Leafs a right-handed centre, who they know very well from his days in Boston, and at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, would give Toronto some much needed size down the middle of the ice.

Coyle does a little bit of everything, combining for 17 goals last season between the Bruins and Avs, while also playing both sides of special teams, landing 108 hits, and winning close to 50% of his faceoffs. Ideally he’s over 50% at the dot, but that’s certainly something he can master, or take pointers from Matthews during practice, as the game is always easier when you start with the puck.

Coyle has one year left at $5.2 million, and at 33 years old, is someone who Treliving could like to re-sign on a short-term deal. He’s an upgrade over Laughton, or Kampf for the top six, but there’s no doubt he’s not the sexiest name on the board. He butted heads with Nathan MacKinnon a couple of times after the trade from Boston, so it will be interesting to see what his future holds this summer. If he’s moved, he won’t have to hear the ‘Nate Dogg’ barking in his face anymore: