<p>The Toronto Maple Leafs remain squarely in contention for the Atlantic Division crown as the 4 Nations Face-Off break approaches.</p>
<p>But as well as the season has gone for the team to this point, there remains a gaping need down the middle, and the desire to shore up their centre depth remains high on Brad Treliving&#8217;s to-do list. He has stressed numerous times throughout the campaign that it is their top priority, so naturally, the team has been connected to many options in the past few weeks.</p>
<p>Brock Nelson, Yanni Gourde, Ryan O&#8217;Reilly, Mikael Granlund, Scott Laughton, and Nazem Kadri have been mentioned as potential solutions to the Leafs&#8217; lack of quality centres beyond Auston Matthews and John Tavares. They certainly could be a nice add if the move could be pulled off, but there are also reasons to believe that a good chunk of them could either have too many suitors or may not even be available at all.</p>
<p>There is no doubt that going after the sexy name is a big sell for fans who want to see their team go on a run (ie <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/how-mikko-rantanen-trade-whats-next-mitch-marner" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Mikko Rantanen blockbuster</a>). But sometimes it is the under-the-radar pickup that proves to be the winning ticket to get a franchise over the hump and into immortality. Perhaps the latter path is what the Leafs decide is the best way to address their needs at centre and possibly without having to break the bank asset-wise. Here are five such players that could fit the mould for smart adds down the middle.</p>
<h2>Luke Kunin</h2>
<p>Kunin is <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/five-bottom-six-forwards-the-leafs-should-consider-acquiring" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a player I mentioned last season</a> as someone the Leafs should consider for their bottom six, and there is a good chance he is on their radar well over a year later. Sportsnet&#8217;s Elliotte Friedman mentioned in a recent episode of 32 Thoughts The Podcasts that Kunin, a player the Leafs have had an interest in before, could be someone they inquire about leading up to the trade deadline.</p>
<p>&#8220;I was watching a little bit of San Jose and Nashville on Thursday night,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I look at that guy (Luke Kunin), and I was saying &#8211; I could see him being a Leaf target. He&#8217;s got 11 goals this year, he&#8217;s a guy that&#8217;s scored double-digit goals five of the last six years, and the one year he didn&#8217;t, he was hurt for a chunk of it.&#8221;</p>
<p>He is a dependable two-way forward who can be versatile depending on what his team needs from him. Whether it be taking faceoffs or sliding to the wing, Kunin can be relied on in all situations. He is also right in the prime of his career and has a reasonable cap hit of $2.75 million. Of course, the main caveats are that he is injury-prone and is a UFA at season end so it is unknown if the Leafs want to target a rental. If they decide to go that route, Kunin could be a sneaky good addition without breaking the bank.</p>
<h2>Peyton Krebs</h2>
<p><a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/why-the-buffalo-sabres-could-ideal-trade-partner-for-leafs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">I wrote about Krebs as an option for the Leafs on Friday</a>, but to summarize my thoughts: he is a playmaker with a high motor, a great skater who is responsible at both ends of the ice, and does not shy away from the physical side of the game when the situation calls for it. That would certainly be an upgrade over someone like Max Domi while also being a younger piece who still has room for growth and is on the books for another season after this one.</p>
<p>While it is hard to envision if the Sabres would be willing to trade with their bitter divisional rival (it has been nearly 16 years since the last time the two teams made a deal together),  they are one of the few teams who can be safely classified as sellers with fans calling for sweeping changes. This presents an opportunity to take a flyer on a young player such as Krebs who could benefit from a change of scenery given his puzzling usage under Lindy Ruff.</p>
<p>Krebs not only fits their immediate timeline but could also be a useful option for them for years to come as part of the next phase of their development with younger pieces in the system slowly making their way up to the NHL. Targeting him could pay off dividends for the next half decade as far as addressing their need for someone to replace Tavares as the long-term second-line centre.</p>
<h2>Jean-Gabriel Pageau</h2>
<p>Nelson is the player that a lot of Leafs fans are clamouring for, but perhaps their better target on Long Island is another centre in Pageau. He has long been a dependable shutdown centre who is elite at the dots, can be used in all situations, and is a reliable secondary scorer who is good for at least 30 points in a season.</p>
<p>Pageau has positive underlying numbers on an Islanders team that has struggled this season as their fleeting playoff hopes continue to slip away. His 22 points (nine goals and 13 assists) in 44 games played have him seventh on the team in scoring; if he were on the Leafs he would be tied with Morgan Rielly for sixth in points. To boot, he has a knack for coming up clutch in the playoffs as Pageau has usually been in the upper half of his team in postseason scoring.</p>
<p>A hypothetical move won&#8217;t be easy to pull off as Pageau has another year left beyond this season at $5 million AAV, so a third team would likely have to be involved to make a trade possible. But if the Leafs can make it a reality, they would be getting a quality middle-six centre who can help them for the next few years and possibly beyond.</p>
<h2>Kevin Hayes</h2>
<p>Hayes is in the midst of a down season with the Penguins, but it is for that exact reason that taking a flyer on him while his value is low is worth considering. The former All-Star has long been a dependable middle-six center who is elite shorthanded, can chip in offensively when needed, and is versatile having the ability to be used wherever his team needs him.</p>
<p>Potentially acquiring Hayes would be a reunion of sorts as he and Craig Berube crossed paths during the 2023-24 season before the coach was fired by the St. Louis Blues. Getting the opportunity to join a contending team after missing the playoffs for the last four seasons going into this one will surely give him some motivation as he will want a chance at the Stanley Cup.</p>
<p>It is not known if Kyle Dubas would be willing to make a deal with his former team, though he and Treliving were on good terms having done a few trades together over the years. Should he be willing to do so, all that stands in the way is getting Hayes half retained salary further retained so that the Leafs have the chance to make further additions if necessary.</p>
<h2>Mason McTavish</h2>
<p>It may seem far-fetched at first glance that Anaheim would even be willing to entertain the idea of trading the former third-overall pick of the 2021 Draft, but is not as ludicrous when you look at the situation McTavish finds himself in. Despite being among the team&#8217;s most reliable scorers since entering the league, Ducks coach Greg Cronin made the bizarre decision of <a href="https://x.com/ZachCav/status/1882557700044980365" target="_blank" rel="noopener">referring to McTavish as &#8216;a third-line guy that has offensive abilities&#8217;.</a></p>
<p>That comment is a reflection of what has been an odd season for McTavish in terms of utilization. He has spent the vast majority of the season on the third line though there have been times he was moved to the wing on the second line and even spent a few games on the fourth line. While he has not spoken out on the matter, it certainly has to be frustrating to be bouncing around the lineup with that much frequency on a team that shows no signs of being competitive in the near future.</p>
<p>If the situation becomes untenable and McTavish wishes for a change of scenery, then the Leafs would be smart to be all over it. Not only would they get themselves a talented young player who would be hungry to prove he can be a factor in the top six right now, but he would fit in nicely with their long-term plans. Of course, the potential asking price won&#8217;t be cheap given his draft pedigree and knack for clutch goals at international tournaments, but it could be a savvy add for Treliving if can pull it off.</p>


The Toronto Maple Leafs remain squarely in contention for the Atlantic Division crown as the 4 Nations Face-Off break approaches.

But as well as the season has gone for the team to this point, there remains a gaping need down the middle, and the desire to shore up their centre depth remains high on Brad Treliving's to-do list. He has stressed numerous times throughout the campaign that it is their top priority, so naturally, the team has been connected to many options in the past few weeks.

Brock Nelson, Yanni Gourde, Ryan O'Reilly, Mikael Granlund, Scott Laughton, and Nazem Kadri have been mentioned as potential solutions to the Leafs' lack of quality centres beyond Auston Matthews and John Tavares. They certainly could be a nice add if the move could be pulled off, but there are also reasons to believe that a good chunk of them could either have too many suitors or may not even be available at all.

There is no doubt that going after the sexy name is a big sell for fans who want to see their team go on a run (ie <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/how-mikko-rantanen-trade-whats-next-mitch-marner" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Mikko Rantanen blockbuster</a>). But sometimes it is the under-the-radar pickup that proves to be the winning ticket to get a franchise over the hump and into immortality. Perhaps the latter path is what the Leafs decide is the best way to address their needs at centre and possibly without having to break the bank asset-wise. Here are five such players that could fit the mould for smart adds down the middle.
<h2>Luke Kunin</h2>
Kunin is <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/five-bottom-six-forwards-the-leafs-should-consider-acquiring" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a player I mentioned last season</a> as someone the Leafs should consider for their bottom six, and there is a good chance he is on their radar well over a year later. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman mentioned in a recent episode of 32 Thoughts The Podcasts that Kunin, a player the Leafs have had an interest in before, could be someone they inquire about leading up to the trade deadline.

"I was watching a little bit of San Jose and Nashville on Thursday night," he said. "I look at that guy (Luke Kunin), and I was saying - I could see him being a Leaf target. He's got 11 goals this year, he's a guy that's scored double-digit goals five of the last six years, and the one year he didn't, he was hurt for a chunk of it."

He is a dependable two-way forward who can be versatile depending on what his team needs from him. Whether it be taking faceoffs or sliding to the wing, Kunin can be relied on in all situations. He is also right in the prime of his career and has a reasonable cap hit of $2.75 million. Of course, the main caveats are that he is injury-prone and is a UFA at season end so it is unknown if the Leafs want to target a rental. If they decide to go that route, Kunin could be a sneaky good addition without breaking the bank.
<h2>Peyton Krebs</h2>
<a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/why-the-buffalo-sabres-could-ideal-trade-partner-for-leafs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">I wrote about Krebs as an option for the Leafs on Friday</a>, but to summarize my thoughts: he is a playmaker with a high motor, a great skater who is responsible at both ends of the ice, and does not shy away from the physical side of the game when the situation calls for it. That would certainly be an upgrade over someone like Max Domi while also being a younger piece who still has room for growth and is on the books for another season after this one.

While it is hard to envision if the Sabres would be willing to trade with their bitter divisional rival (it has been nearly 16 years since the last time the two teams made a deal together),  they are one of the few teams who can be safely classified as sellers with fans calling for sweeping changes. This presents an opportunity to take a flyer on a young player such as Krebs who could benefit from a change of scenery given his puzzling usage under Lindy Ruff.

Krebs not only fits their immediate timeline but could also be a useful option for them for years to come as part of the next phase of their development with younger pieces in the system slowly making their way up to the NHL. Targeting him could pay off dividends for the next half decade as far as addressing their need for someone to replace Tavares as the long-term second-line centre.
<h2>Jean-Gabriel Pageau</h2>
Nelson is the player that a lot of Leafs fans are clamouring for, but perhaps their better target on Long Island is another centre in Pageau. He has long been a dependable shutdown centre who is elite at the dots, can be used in all situations, and is a reliable secondary scorer who is good for at least 30 points in a season.

Pageau has positive underlying numbers on an Islanders team that has struggled this season as their fleeting playoff hopes continue to slip away. His 22 points (nine goals and 13 assists) in 44 games played have him seventh on the team in scoring; if he were on the Leafs he would be tied with Morgan Rielly for sixth in points. To boot, he has a knack for coming up clutch in the playoffs as Pageau has usually been in the upper half of his team in postseason scoring.

A hypothetical move won't be easy to pull off as Pageau has another year left beyond this season at $5 million AAV, so a third team would likely have to be involved to make a trade possible. But if the Leafs can make it a reality, they would be getting a quality middle-six centre who can help them for the next few years and possibly beyond.
<h2>Kevin Hayes</h2>
Hayes is in the midst of a down season with the Penguins, but it is for that exact reason that taking a flyer on him while his value is low is worth considering. The former All-Star has long been a dependable middle-six center who is elite shorthanded, can chip in offensively when needed, and is versatile having the ability to be used wherever his team needs him.

Potentially acquiring Hayes would be a reunion of sorts as he and Craig Berube crossed paths during the 2023-24 season before the coach was fired by the St. Louis Blues. Getting the opportunity to join a contending team after missing the playoffs for the last four seasons going into this one will surely give him some motivation as he will want a chance at the Stanley Cup.

It is not known if Kyle Dubas would be willing to make a deal with his former team, though he and Treliving were on good terms having done a few trades together over the years. Should he be willing to do so, all that stands in the way is getting Hayes half retained salary further retained so that the Leafs have the chance to make further additions if necessary.
<h2>Mason McTavish</h2>
It may seem far-fetched at first glance that Anaheim would even be willing to entertain the idea of trading the former third-overall pick of the 2021 Draft, but is not as ludicrous when you look at the situation McTavish finds himself in. Despite being among the team's most reliable scorers since entering the league, Ducks coach Greg Cronin made the bizarre decision of <a href="https://x.com/ZachCav/status/1882557700044980365" target="_blank" rel="noopener">referring to McTavish as 'a third-line guy that has offensive abilities'.</a>

That comment is a reflection of what has been an odd season for McTavish in terms of utilization. He has spent the vast majority of the season on the third line though there have been times he was moved to the wing on the second line and even spent a few games on the fourth line. While he has not spoken out on the matter, it certainly has to be frustrating to be bouncing around the lineup with that much frequency on a team that shows no signs of being competitive in the near future.

If the situation becomes untenable and McTavish wishes for a change of scenery, then the Leafs would be smart to be all over it. Not only would they get themselves a talented young player who would be hungry to prove he can be a factor in the top six right now, but he would fit in nicely with their long-term plans. Of course, the potential asking price won't be cheap given his draft pedigree and knack for clutch goals at international tournaments, but it could be a savvy add for Treliving if can pull it off.

5 under the radar centres the Maple Leafs should consider acquiring

Recent articles from Michael Mazzei

Breaking News