Toronto Maple Leafs: Who Stays, Who Goes?

Untouchables is a word loosely thrown around in the world of sports. Every team has at least one or two players that they consider untouchable. However, that could change if another team sends an offer too good to pass up. According to Elliotte Friedman from Sportsnet, the Maple Leafs have four untouchables. They are Auston Matthews, John Tavares, William Nylander, and Matthew Knies. Toronto’s new core four, so to speak.

The Maple Leafs, with a 9-9-3 record, continue to struggle through the early part of this season. Many in Leafs Nation are starting to panic. There are reports that Leafs GM Brad Treliving is looking around the league to see what’s available in the trade market. However, the Leafs don’t have many trade chips that other teams are interested in. Hence, the mention of the Leafs’ untouchables. I think the team can expand on the untouchable four and extend it to six. Top prospect Easton Cowan and defense prospect Ben Danford should both be on the list.

A good portion of the Leafs’ future was traded away last season. The team traded away Nikita Grebenkin and a conditional first-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft to the Philadelphia Flyers for Scott Laughton. They also traded away prospect Fraser Minten, a conditional first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, and a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft to the Boston Bruins for Brandon Carlo. Therefore, I think Cowan and Danford should be considered untouchable.

Untouchables is a Relative Term

Although the Leafs are off to a slow start, they are still only four points behind the Atlantic Division-leading Detroit Red Wings. I would say it’s still too early to hit the panic button. However, if the Leafs are going to make a trade, the six players I mentioned as untouchables shouldn’t be made available. Everyone else is fair game if it will help make the team better.

For salary cap reasons, most trades the Leafs make this season will be player-for-player. Up front, the top players whom the Leafs should consider trading are Max Domi ($3.75 million), Dakota Joshua ($3.25 million), and Calle Jarnkrok ($2.1 million). On defense, Brandon Carlo ($3.485 million) and Philippe Myers ($850,000) should be made available. However, for the right deal, I think any Leafs defenseman should be available. Ben Danford is the team’s top defense prospect and should be considered untouchable.