Leafs Have Interest in Edvinsson

The Toronto Maple Leafs are looking to turn the page and deliver a bounce-back season in 2026-27. There are high expectations that the club can get back on track.

That’s understandable, considering the Maple Leafs have made significant changes to their roster. Among the notable additions are Kirill Marchenko, Darren Raddysh, Sergei Bobrovsky, and Jack Roslovic. They give Toronto a considerably different look for the 2026-27 campaign.

Still, when you look at the Maple Leafs’ current roster, it’s fair to wonder if something is missing. One of the more obvious needs is adding an impact left-shot defenseman. Toronto is now being linked to one of the NHL’s top trade candidates on the blue line.

Leafs Mentioned in Recent Rumor

In a recent piece for NHL Trade Rumors, Dave Litman identified the Toronto Maple Leafs as one of the top potential landing spots for disgruntled Detroit Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson.

“The ink hadn’t even dried on Kirill Marchenko’s new sign-and-trade extension with the Leafs before word emerged that GM John Chayka wasn’t done yet with the overhaul of his roster. The blueline is clearly the next target, and if it’s another big swing he’s looking for, it doesn’t get much bigger than this,” Litman wrote about the Leafs and Edvinsson.

With Toronto still looking to add another defenseman, it’s easy to see why the Maple Leafs have emerged as a potential landing spot for Edvinsson. If the Leafs were able to acquire him, the 23-year-old would represent a significant addition to their blue line, bringing both immediate upside and plenty of room for further development. Given his age and potential, Edvinsson could be the type of long-term piece Toronto’s defense has been looking for.

Edvinsson Could Fit in Toronto Lineup

Looking at the Maple Leafs’ current blue line, Edvinsson could slide seamlessly into their top four. The young defenceman could potentially be paired with veteran Chris Tanev. This would give Edvinsson the freedom to be more aggressive offensively. With Tanev providing that defensive safety net, Edvinsson could have the opportunity to take more chances. Those extra chances could maximize his offensive upside.

Edvinsson would also give the Maple Leafs another puck-moving option on the power play. The young blueliner has flashed plenty of offensive upside early in his career. However, a change of scenery in Toronto could provide the opportunity he needs to unlock more of his potential.

Edvinsson was selected by the Red Wings in the first round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, sixth overall. Since then, he has posted 19 goals, 60 points, 217 hits, and a plus-17 rating in 175 career NHL games with Detroit.

Edvinsson scored a career-high nine goals and 25 points in 72 games with Detroit last season. He posted a career-high 31 points in 78 games with the Red Wings in 2024-25. With numbers like these, he would be a nice pickup for a team like Toronto.