NHL Rumors: Toronto Maple Leafs, and the St. Louis Blues

Mark Easson
4 Min Read
Vancouver Canucks defenseman Luke Schenn (2) checks St. Louis Blues forward Robert Thomas (18) in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

The Toronto Maple Leafs still have interest in Luke Schenn, and they’re watching Dougie Hamilton

TSN: The Toronto Maple Leafs are already without defenseman Chris Tanev for an unknown amount of time, possibly the season. Oliver Ekman-Larsson went down on Wednesday night, and Brandon Carlo may not be 100%. Pierre LeBrun notes it could put more pressure on the Leafs to add a defenseman sooner than later.

“Already Leafs GM Brad Treliving, as we’ve talked about before on Insider Trading, has been sizing up the market on defence looking at his options. We mentioned, for example, potential interest in Luke Schenn of the Winnipeg Jets, I think that’s still there.

You know, I mentioned last week that Toronto is a team to keep an eye on with Dougie Hamilton. I don’t know if the Leafs can make that work and where that’s headed with Dougie Hamilton, but I think that Toronto is on the list of teams that Dougie Hamilton has approved, among many other teams obviously on his list.”

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Trade comparables for the St. Louis Blues and Robert Thomas

Jeremy Rutherford and Shyna Goldman of The Athletic: Robert Thomas‘ production with the St. Louis Blues is down this season, but he’s not the only one on the Blues roster. He’s currently on the IR with a lower-body injury, but there is speculation out there that they would listen.

If they were to move Thomas and break up their core, that would leave a big hole down the middle. He’d draw plenty of trade interest, as would forwards Pavel Buchnevich and Jordan Kyrou.

When looking at trade comparables of No. 1 centers over the past five seasons, there have really only been three (according to Goldman): Tomas Hertl, Jack Eichel and Bo Horvat. If looking at top-six centers, there would be four: J.T. Miller, Elias Lindholm, Pierre-Luc Dubois, and Ryan O’Reilly.

Eichel only cost a first, second, Alex Tuch and Peyton Krebs, but there was the neck surgery influence. Lindholm, O’Reilly and Horvat (pending UFAs) all netted a first and a prospect/pick. Hertl was in the second-year of an eight-year deal netted a first and a prospect who was a first-round pick the previous year.

A return for Thomas should net at least a first-round pick and a high-end prospect/up-and-comer.

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Rutherford adds that a Thomas offer would have to be really good for them to consider it. His $8.125 million cap will only look better over the years if he can keep up his production. He’s their best offensive player and can be one of their better defensive players.

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