The Toronto Maple Leafs aren't done making moves after the blockbuster Mitch Marner sign-and trade to the Vegas Golden Knights and Calle Jarnkrok may be next.
For the first time in half a decade, the Toronto Maple Leafs are armed with cap space; $5.3M in fact, which is a luxury for Brad Treliving.
However, it has been reported that the Maple Leafs are far from done making trades, and have attempted several over the past few weeks.
One of the players heavily involved in this trade talk has been Jarnkrok. Jarnkrok is in the final year of a four-year $8.4M deal that features a 10-team no-trade list.
While this trade protection is an obstacle for Treliving and the Leafs, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period has reported that Jarnkrok would likely not object to a move.
Jarnkrok is a perfectly good player, and has been effective for the Maple Leafs throughout his contract, but his $2.1M cap hit is rich, and the team has to look at broader opportunity ahead.
The 2026 free agency class is expected to be full of big names, and many of those names could be available as rentals at the trade deadline; accruing additional cap space now could allow the Leafs to make big-ticket moves later in the season, bolstering their lineup ahead of the playoffs.
Whether or not Treliving is able to move Jarnkrok is still unknown — the team has little leverage in a deal, but with an underwhelming free agent market this past year, teams are looking to fill spots in their lineup.
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