Shocking: Two players to leave! A hard but necessary decision for the Toronto Maple Leafs

Though money is first on mind, Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Trevling is in the market to create a stir on Friday, the trade deadline.

With $2.2 million in cap space, Trevling will need to acquire salary retention from trade partners on the incoming player(s) Chris Johnston and Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic if he is to make any meaningful roster adjustments.

St. Louis Blues center Brayden Schenn, Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Scott Laughton or Montreal Canadiens winger Jake Evans are two of the Maple Leafs’ main targets.

“It’s almost decision time following a months-long hunt for a third-line center. While monitoring fall-back rental choices including Montreal’s Jake Evans, Seattle’s Yanni Gourde, and Utah’s Nick Bjugstad, the two insiders have looked at Brayden Schenn in St. Louis and Scott Laughton in Philadelphia.

“GM Brad Treliving is also looking for another depth defenseman able to play the right side. Every decision Toronto makes is under a tight cap; so, Treliving is probably looking for salary retention from any seller and/or use another team as a third-party broker to make the money work.”

On his contract with a $6.5 million AAV, Schenn has two years left—far more than Toronto’s present cap allows. Laughton, on the other hand, fits more easily as he has one year remaining at $3 million.

Laughton has scored 11 goals and 16 assists in 58 Flyers games this season; Schenn has scored 12 goals and 26 assists in 62 Blues games.

“We look at Brayden Schenn as being a great fit in Toronto because of the player and because of the winning pedigree,” NHL insider Darren Dreger said last week.

“You gaze at Toronto’s prospect pool and find Fraser Minten or Easton Cowan. You have Nikita Grebenky. Ben Danford is scheduled to arrive. Brad Treliving can use other assets, after all. And he is most clearly fascinated by Blues’ captain.