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Maple Leafs Interest Level in Brandon Saad Hints at Signing Issue

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | By Jim Parsons | Last updated Jan 31, 2025 11:42 AM ET

On Thursday’s edition of Insider Trading, TSN’s Chris Johnston reported that the Toronto Maple Leafs will be among the teams expected to make a push for veteran forward Brandon Saad. Saad will become a free agent on Friday afternoon, and several teams are being linked, including Edmonton, Vegas, New Jersey, and Tampa Bay.

Nick Kypreos is reporting both the Oilers and Maple Leafs are pursuing this, but another TSN reporter wonders just how heavily the Leafs are in on the player.

Elliotte Friedman notes the market for Saad will be big and wonders if a team might look at giving him a second year. That would rule out a few suitors. It might rule out the Maple Leafs.

Is the Maple Leafs Interest in Saad “Moderate”?

TSN’s Darren Dreger reported on Early Insider Trading on Thursday that Toronto has interest but also that they have other needs they deem a priority. He called their level of interest “moderate.”

“The reason I choose the word moderate is because as much as I like the history between Craig Berube and Brandon Saad and the fact that Saad could complement what the Toronto Maple Leafs have – because he can skate, he can provide secondary scoring – he hasn’t been providing much with the St. Louis Blues to this point of the year, which is why he’s gone through this process.”

Dreger notes, “Again, I caution: Toronto has other needs.”

He mentioned that John Tavares is coming back but that GM Brad Treliving is looking at the center market and perhaps some help on the blue line. If Toronto puts money into other fixes, can they really afford Saad? Dreger believes it might have to come at the expense of something more critical. “Those are questions that are probably being asked internally in Toronto and will swirl around any sort of negotiation specific to Brandon Saad and his agent.”

Why Might the Leafs Back Off on Saad?

When you look at the struggles of Pontus Holmberg, Max Domi, David Kampf, and Connor Dewar this season, it makes sense the Leafs prioritize adding a center. They’ve got Auston Matthews and John Tavares, who have both played well, but both also have injury concerns.

Meanwhile, Morgan Rielly is having a down season and Jake McCabe’s injuries have created the need to ask players like Conor Timmins, Philippe Myers, and Simon Benoit to step up. They’ve not always been able to do so.

The question Treliving will need to ask is how much the Leafs are willing to put secondary scoring ahead of addressing those other needs?

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

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