It’s been a bit of a miserable first three months of the 2025-2026 season for the Toronto Maple Leafs. A poor start, injuries and disappointing performances from their stars have all contributed to a 15-14-5 record in 34 games, leaving them just one point above the cellar of the Eastern Conference standings.
While there is still plenty of season left, the number of teams separating the Leafs from a playoff spot has many thinking it may already be time to sell pieces and retool for next year. That line of thinking is understandable, but general manager Brad Treliving isn’t ready for it yet. Instead, he continues to operate as a buyer on the trade market in hopes of getting his team back into contention.
As a result, the Maple Leafs are looking to address several needs, including a top-six forward to play alongside Auston Matthews. Life after Mitch Marner hasn’t been easy for the captain, whose play and production have fallen short of expectations this season. Therefore, adding a top-tier winger, preferably with playing ability, is a big priority to get him and the team going.
With that in mind, TSN insider Pierre LeBrun brought up Jonathan Marchessault as a potential fit for Toronto in a recent trade matchmaker piece for The Athletic.
LeBrun wrote:
“You can argue that the last thing the struggling Leafs need is an aging player. But listen. The Leafs don’t have a lot of assets to trade. For the Predators, this would be more about moving the rest of the contract – three more seasons after this one with a cap hit of $5.5 million. The Leafs would still have to trade assets, but it wouldn’t be as expensive as other trade targets they’ve looked at… Again, I imagine some Leafs fans just want the whole thing to be rebuilt now and no more. But with the team without a first-round pick in 2026 or 2027 and the standings still very tight, general manager Brad Treliving isn’t ready to wave the white flag just yet.
The 34-year-old Marchessault is in the second year of the five-year, $27.5 million contract he signed to play for the Predators as a UFA in 2024. He has been held to just 10 points (seven goals, three assists) in 28 games played this season and appears to be due for a change of scenery.
Is Jonathan Marchessault what Toronto needs?
While Marchessault’s talent, experience and proven ability to deliver in big moments are undeniably intriguing, he may not make much sense for the Maple Leafs.
Toronto has already looked old and slow at times this season, so adding another aging forward who is no longer quick on his feet at this stage of his career won’t solve that problem. If anything, there is a risk of making it worse.
Matthews in particular has played at a noticeably slower pace this year, making it more logical for the Leafs to prioritize a younger, playmaking winger who can help push the pace on the top line – even if that’s much easier said than done.
As LeBrun noted, Marchessault’s acquisition costs could fall more comfortably within Treliving’s limited asset pool given their lack of picks and top prospects. Still, it seems wiser at this point for Toronto to exhaust other options on the market before making a move for Marchessault.
Next: Analyst calls Auston Matthews the Maple Leafs’ biggest problem
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