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Four Maple Leafs Players the Oilers Should Jump On

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | By Old Prof | Last updated Jan 30, 2026 12:49 PM ET

After that flat, wandering loss to the Seattle Kraken, it’s hard to pretend anymore: if the Toronto Maple Leafs aren’t officially sellers, they’re drifting there quickly. Another five goals allowed, with only two scored. The Maple Leafs are a team staring at the ice like it’s giving them bad news.

Meanwhile, out west, the Oilers pulled a Houdini-like escape act against the San Jose Sharks. Trailing 3-0 in the third, Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid, and Evan Bouchard tied it up. Then Zach Hyman walked it off in overtime. That’s the kind of comeback that tells you everything: Edmonton is a buyer. Toronto is not.

Everyone keeps circling Bobby McMann, and with good reason. But he might just be the main course. The Maple Leafs have a menu of supporting pieces that could help the Oilers, with some surprising options. If the Oilers really want to add depth, value, and playoff-style utility, the Maple Leafs actually have three other players who fit Edmonton’s needs almost too well.

Nick Robertson: A Draisaitl Project Waiting to Happen

If there was a Maple Leaf who showed up against Seattle, it was Nick Robertson. For a smaller winger, he plays with a surprising bit of bite. He finishes checks, battles for pucks, and shoots it every chance he gets. Nobody has to remind him what his job is.

He’s been stuck in third-line minutes and still has 12 goals; with real ice time, he could easily be pushing 20. And here’s the thing: stick him on Draisaitl’s wing and the whole picture changes.

Remember the early chemistry Draisaitl had with Kyler Yamamoto? Robertson is a far more dangerous offensive player than Yamamoto ever was—and more physical. His defence has actually come around this season, too. On the Oilers, he wouldn’t just fit. He’d thrive.

Steven Lorentz: Edmonton’s Perfect Connor Brown Replacement

Lorentz doesn’t get talked about nearly enough. He’s under contract through 2027–28 at $1.35 million. That’s a sweet number for what he brings, and he might be the Maple Leafs’ best penalty killer not named Scott Laughton.

Lorentz is smart, heavy, and he can pressure the puck. He also chips in the odd goal. That’s exactly the kind of player Edmonton continually tries to find on the cheap. He’s someone who can do Brown’s job without needing Brown’s minutes. If you dropped Lorentz into the Oilers’ bottom six tomorrow, you wouldn’t take him out again.

Calle Järnkrok: The Quiet, Useful Rental

Järnkrok barely plays heavy minutes in Toronto anymore, but the hockey sense is still there. He can slide into any of the four lines, stabilize a checking unit, and pop the occasional goal. He scored 20 goals with the Maple Leafs, having to take a spot on the team’s top line for part of the 2022-23 season.

As a pure rental, he’s about as painless as they come. The Oilers could get him for a song, even as a throw-in with another trade. But if someone goes down in the Oilers’ top nine, he can survive there in a pinch. If not, he strengthens the depth. He would be painless insurance for a long Stanley Cup run.

Robertson and Lorentz Could Become Part of the Oilers’ Future

Robertson and Lorentz aren’t rentals, and they shouldn’t be treated like rentals. They’re real pieces with real value. Järnkrok, though? As an inexpensive depth add with experience and versatility, he’s exactly the sort of player contenders pick up quietly—and end up using in big moments.

If the Maple Leafs truly become sellers, the Oilers don’t need to look far. Three ideal fits are already sitting right on their roster.

This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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