Maple Leafs Eye Blues Captain Brayden Schenn, But Major Obstacles Loom Ahead of Trade Deadline.
With the March 7 NHL trade deadline fast approaching, the Toronto Maple Leafs have zeroed in on St. Louis Blues captain Brayden Schenn as their top trade target. According to The Athletic’s Chris Johnston and Jonas Siegel, Toronto is making a strong push for Schenn, even as they look to reinforce both their center depth and defensive core. However, pulling off this deal won’t be easy, as several hurdles stand in the way.
“Brayden Schenn appears to have emerged as the Leafs’ primary target,” Johnston and Siegel reported. “But there are plenty of obstacles Toronto must overcome to land the younger brother of former Leafs defenseman Luke Schenn.”
One major challenge? Schenn holds a full no-trade clause, meaning he has complete control over where he goes. Additionally, the 33-year-old veteran still has three more years left on his current contract, carrying an annual cap hit of $6.5 million. And perhaps the biggest roadblock there’s no guarantee that the Blues will be willing to part ways with one of their core leaders.
Schenn has tallied 12 goals and 22 assists across 59 games this season and was a key piece in St. Louis’ 2019 Stanley Cup-winning team under now-Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube. If acquired, he would likely take on a third-line center role behind superstars Auston Matthews and John Tavares, adding veteran leadership and much-needed depth to Toronto’s bottom six.
But the cost of landing Schenn is expected to be steep. Johnston and Siegel suggest that Toronto would likely have to surrender a first-round draft pick—potentially their 2026 selection, given that their 2025 pick is already gone along with one of their top prospects, such as Easton Cowan, Fraser Minten, or Ben Danford. Additionally, the Leafs must figure out how to absorb Schenn’s hefty $6.5 million salary as part of his long-term, $52 million deal with the Blues.
Despite swirling trade rumors, Schenn remains focused on St. Louis and isn’t getting caught up in speculation. Speaking to Lou Korac of The Hockey News, he expressed his deep connection to the Blues but acknowledged the business side of the NHL.
“I don’t think I need to get into rumors or whatever,” Schenn said. “I’m not part of those discussions behind closed doors. What I do know is that I love St. Louis I love being here. It’s always been the best thing for me. Of course, I understand there’s a business side to the game, but at the end of the day, I’m a St. Louis Blue, and I love it here.”
With the deadline ticking down, the Maple Leafs face a tough road ahead if they hope to bring Schenn to Toronto. Whether they can clear these obstacles and pull off a blockbuster trade remains to be seen.
