As the March 6th NHL trade deadline approaches, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens, two of hockey's most storied franchises, find themselves in potentially similar situations, both with needs that could be addressed by the same pivotal trade piece.
The Maple Leafs, currently sitting at the bottom of the Atlantic Division with a 16-15-5 record, are seeking to inject consistency into their lineup and ease the offensive burden on Auston Matthews. General Manager Brad Treliving, despite the team's struggles, is reportedly not ready to "wave the white flag just yet" and is exploring options to bolster the roster for a playoff push. The departure of Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights has created a void in the top-six forward group that Treliving is keen to fill, potentially with a right-winger to play alongside Matthews or John Tavares, or a center to push Tavares to the wing. The Leafs are also reportedly searching for a puck-moving defenseman.
Meanwhile, the Montreal Canadiens, while exceeding expectations with their young core led by Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Lane Hutson, are also looking to add offensive firepower to expedite their journey to becoming a true Stanley Cup contender. General Manager Kent Hughes is actively working the phones, exploring potential trade scenarios to add a top-six winger with "pop". While the Canadiens acquired Phillip Danault from the Los Angeles Kings, they may still be interested in adding to their top-six forwards.
One name that has surfaced in connection with both teams is Nashville Predators forward Jonathan Marchessault. The 34-year-old winger, a former Conn Smythe Trophy winner, has a $5.5 million cap hit through three more seasons after this one and possesses a full no-movement clause. While not the player he once was, Marchessault could provide a spark for a team in need of offense.
For the Maple Leafs, acquiring Marchessault could provide a veteran presence and offensive boost to support Matthews and Tavares. Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic suggested that the Predators might be willing to move Marchessault to shed salary, making the acquisition cost potentially lower than other targets. However, some argue that adding another aging player is not the right move for the struggling Leafs.
The Canadiens' interest in Marchessault stems from a desire to add experience and offensive pop to their young roster. Chris Johnston of The Athletic noted that Montreal could be an appealing destination for Marchessault, given his no-movement clause and status as a Quebec native. However, the acquisition would likely require shedding salary, with Patrik Laine's $8.7 million cap hit being a potential candidate to be moved. Some Canadiens fans have pushed back against the idea of acquiring Marchessault, viewing it as a step backward from the team's rebuild, given his age, contract, and the presence of young forwards vying for roster spots.
Other potential trade targets for the Maple Leafs include Nazem Kadri of the Calgary Flames and Mason McTavish of the Anaheim Ducks. The Canadiens, meanwhile, could also target Marco Rossi of the Minnesota Wild or Pavel Zacha of the Boston Bruins.
Ultimately, whether either the Maple Leafs or Canadiens pursue Marchessault or another trade target will depend on their respective needs, cap situations, and the asking price of the selling team. As the trade deadline approaches, it will be intriguing to see if these two rivals end up competing for the same pivotal trade piece in their quest to improve their teams.
