Maple Leaf Deadline Trading Helps, But Health Will Determine Playoff Destiny – Hockey Writer – Toronto Maple Leaf

Before entering the NHL trade deadline, Toronto Maple Leafs have a clear need for their needs: move forward at the bottom six and help defend. With that in mind, there are rumors that Maple Leaf is pursuing Scott Laughton, the Philadelphia Flying Center, and these rumors are true. Shortly after noon Friday, the team announced that they had acquired Laughton, along with a 2025 fourth-round pick and 2027 sixth-round pick in exchange for their 2027 first-round pick (conditional) and popular prospect Nikita Grebenkin.

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The condition for a first-round pick is that it will only be sent in the top 10. Otherwise, it will be extended to next season. Additionally, the Flyer agreed to retain 50% of Lauughton’s contract, which expires after the 2025-26 season. The deal puts Maple Leaf Laugh and a salary cap of only $1.5 million next season.

Surprise deal for maple leaves

While Laughton’s deal isn’t surprising, Maple Leaf’s second major deadline deal comes from the left market. The team acquired 6-foot-5, 220-pound defensive player Brandon Carlo from the Boston Bruins. The Maple Leafs sent first-round draft pick Fraser Minten in the 2026 NHL draft, a conditional first-round draft pick, and won a fourth-round draft pick in the 2025 NHL draft.

The Bruins agreed to keep 15% of Carlo’s $4.1 million salary, which is for the 2026-27 season. While 15% may seem trivial, the total is $615,000, which is crucial to allow maple leaves to maintain the flexibility of the roster during stretching.

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Speaking of team salaries, the Maple Leafs also handed Connor Dewar and Conor Timmins to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a fifth-round pick in 2025. In addition, Ryan Reaves cleared the immunity and released another $3.4 million in blocking space. Assuming no further major moves are needed, this series of moves provides enough room for Maple Leaf to incorporate Lawton and Carlo into the roster for the rest of the season.

Take a look at the new lines and new characters of Maple Leaf

With Laugon and Carlo increasing, Maple Leaf’s forward and defensive lines will make some changes. Head coach Craig Berube remitted the new acquisition to a mix with the Colorado Avalanche. Laughton’s game was less than 12 minutes, but Carlo had the most time on the ice at any Maple Leafs player at 22:04.

Currently, when the Maple Leafs play hockey against Utah Hockey Club tonight, the lines look like this:

Frontline combination:

• Matthew Knies – Auston Matthews – Mitch Marner
• Bobby McMann – John Tavares – William Nylander
• Pontus Holmberg – Scott Laughton – Max Domi
• Steven Lorentz – David Kampf – Nicholas Robertson
• Calle Jarnkrok (13th striker)

Defense pairing:

• Morgan Rielly – Brandon Carlo
• Jake McCabe – Oliver Ekman-Larsson
• Simon Benoit – Philippe Myers
• Chris Tanev (injured)

This lineup offers depth and versatility, but raises some questions. First, the fixture on the second row is moved to the third row. Calle Jarnkrok finds himself the 13th striker. If Maple Leafs need a more defensive-oriented seat in the playoffs, Jarnkrok may switch to Robertson. Despite his best hockey lately, will Robertson be trusted when the checks get closer?

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Calle Jarnkrok hasn’t consolidated his place on the roster at a time of experience. He gives the team a playoff depth and if someone doesn’t perform, they may compete for the roster.

Maple Leaf’s defense looks stable, but…

Defensively, Chris Tanev’s health is a turning point. But, assuming all seven defenders stay healthy, Toronto now has a solid group. However, with the intensity and physical condition of the playoffs, staying healthy will be a challenge. If damage occurs, the depth can be tested.

The team’s seventh defender will be Philippe Myers. Besides that, options like Marshall Rifai, Dakota Mermis and Matt Benning are all in line. However, they are not necessarily ideal solutions. Without one of their top six defensemen (now Tanev), Maple Leaf might have survived in one or two games, but prolonged absences would have brought a bigger challenge.

The most important thing is: Maple Leaf is a better team, but health is crucial

After the trade deadline, Maple Leafs are a better team, strengthening their defense and adding useful bottom six forwards. However, the remaining Eastern Conference contenders have made similar progress, so the game remains fierce. Health is the most important factor in Toronto’s success this season. Can the team stay healthy in the playoffs?

Related: Auston Matthews’ deadline move on Maple Leafs

If the team can avoid major injuries and continue to develop the chemistry needed to go deep into the playoffs, the deadline move will be invaluable. But, as always, the unpredictable nature of the playoffs and physical losses to players may even derail the most balanced roster.

Currently, Maple Leaf looks like a stronger competitor. But, like all playoff teams, their fate can depend on health in one thing. Is this revamped lineup enough to push them through the cruelest playoff fights? Only time will prove it.

[Note: I want to thank long-time Maple Leafs fan Stan Smith for collaborating with me on this post. Stan’s Facebook profile can be found here.]