The 2025 NHL trade deadline is just hours away at this point, and the Toronto Maple Leafs need to make a move to set themselves up for success. Teams within the Eastern Conference have been making moves to load up for a Stanley Cup run, and if GM Brad Treliving wants to move the needle for the Maple Leafs, he’ll need to pay a significant acquisition price, as it’s certainly a sellers market at this point.

The Leafs need a centre, and in an ideal world, they land a centre who has term left on their contract. Adding a top-six centre would allow the Leafs more versatility in their lineup, and give Craig Berube a chance to either slide John Tavares down to the third line, or have an interchangeable middle-six in the Maple Leafs’ lineup.

In no particular order, here are seven top-six centres with term the Maple Leafs could acquire before Friday’s 3pm deadline:

Let’s get the easy one out of the way early. Schenn’s been linked to the Maple Leafs for a few weeks now, and it seems like if the St. Louis Blues find a team willing to pay the steep asking price, GM Doug Armstrong would be open to asking him to waive his no-trade clause.

The 33-year-old centre has won a Stanley Cup with Berube behind the bench, he’s a honey badger when it comes to his work ethic, and he’d bring another element of being tough to play against to a Leafs’ lineup that could desperately use more of it. Schenn has three seasons left on his deal, he’s owed $6.5 million AAV on his contract, and if the Leafs and Blues link up for a deal, Treliving will need to sweeten the pot even more to get the Blues to retain some salary moving forward.

Schenn has recorded 38 points in 63 games this season, he can play both sides of special teams, and as mentioned, he knows what it takes to win in the playoffs. He’s been traded twice before so this isn’t unknown territory for the veteran centre, who would have an easy transition playing for his old bench boss in Toronto.

The Nashville Predators have been a unforeseen mess this season. GM Barry Trotz went out and loaded up on free agents last summer, and for whatever reason, the mix of players haven’t worked out in Smashville. O’Reilly could be there for the taking.

O’Reilly had a cup of coffee in Toronto a couple of years ago, and enjoyed getting a chance to play in front of family and friends on a constant basis, but decided to reject Treliving’s extension offer, for essentially the same contract in Nashville. He can do it all, he’s a winner, and like Schenn, he won a Stanley Cup with Berube, taking home the Conn Smythe trophy for playoff MVP. This season with the Preds, the 34-year-old has posted 39 points in 58 games. He has two seasons left on his deal at a respectable $4.5 million AAV, and even though he doesn’t have trade protection on his contract, look for Trotz to ask him if he’s open to the trade before things are finalized.

O’Reilly wouldn’t cost near as much as acquiring Schenn from St. Louis and could play a very similar role. The hard part will be convincing him to come back north.

Like the Predators, the Buffalo Sabres have been a huge disappointment this season. GM Kevyn Adams seems to be considering all options within his lineup at this point, looking to re-tool on the fly once again in Buffalo. For a significant package, Cozens could be available.

At 24, right-handed, and a big body who doesn’t mind throwing his weight around, Cozens could give the Maple Leafs a unique core piece moving forward. In 60 games this season, Cozens has struggled to just 31 points, but has scored 31 goals as a 22-year-old, so there’s still some untapped potential to his game that could flourish in Toronto. The asking price would be massive, but it’s worth it. Cozens plays big minutes, he can be a depth penalty killer, and the 6-foot-3 centre has landed an impressive 147 hits so far this year with the Sabres. The Maple Leafs have craved a right-handed centre for a long time, and Cozens could become the perfect #2 behind Auston Matthews for years to come.

Cozens is signed through the 2029-30 season at $7.1 million AAV, and does not have any trade protection on his deal. Any in-division trade is hard to finalize, but if Treliving’s going to be overpaying regardless before the deadline, he may want to pony up to land Cozens.

A bit of a wild-card as Brock Nelson has been garnering all the trade attention, and Horvat hasn’t been on many trade radars this season. However, when it comes to top-six centres with term, Horvat makes the list.

The Islanders are fighting for their playoff lives, but with four teams to leap frog, GM Lou Lamoriello needs to consider all his options at this point. Horvat is signed through the 2030-31 season, at $8.5 million AAV, and holds a no-trade clause this year. Playing for a contending team in Toronto could be something he’s open too. With 20 goals and 43 points in 60 games, Horvat’s had a good season for the inconsistent Islanders. He plays 20 minutes a night, can play on both sides of special teams, and he’s one of the best faceoff specialists in the league.

If Treliving is going to give up the likes of Easton Cowan, Fraser Minten, Ben Danford, and perhaps the Leafs’ 2026 first-round pick, why not make a splash? Max Domi would need to be included to make the money work, and either David Kampf or Calle Jarnkrok. Pipe dream? Likely, but Horvat would give the Leafs unbelievable depth down the middle of their lineup.

A Toronto/Boston trade would be a rare occurrence, but there’s zero doubt Coyle would help the Maple Leafs for the rest of this season, and next. The 33-year-old has one season left on his contract at $5.25 million AAV, and this season has a no-movement clause, and would have to approve the move.

Coyle has posted 15 goals in 63 games this season, he’s landed 91 hits, and he’s become an above-average penalty killer in the middle stages of his career. Coyle could play a shut-down role for the Maple Leafs, and give Berube an option for either the second line, or anchoring the third line, or even sliding to the wing if needed.

The Bruins are open to just about anything at this point. Brad Marchand prefers to stay instead of getting traded, but if the Leafs and Bruins wind up making a trade before the deadline, Coyle could be the one jumping ships to Boston’s rivals.

The 22-year-old Anaheim Duck makes the list because he’s a pending restricted free agent, and with team control, and a bright future, Treliving should be at least checking in on the asking price from Ducks’ GM Pat Verbeek.

McTavish plays an in-your-face style, his game continues to develop on both sides of the puck, and so far this season, he’s registered 16 goals and 34 points in 55 games. McTavish is in his third full season and he’s managed to produce as a young centre, despite playing for a struggling team in Anaheim, who see a bright future for their former third-overall pick.

He would likely cost both Minten and Cowan, and the Leafs 2026 first-round pick, but with the Lightning and Panthers loading up, the Capitals dangerous as ever with Alex Ovechkin turning back the clock, and the Hurricanes likely cashing in on moving Mikko Rantanen, Treliving needs to go all in.

When the Kings signed Byfield long term, many felt it was an interesting element that he wasn’t given any trade protection on his contract. At $6.25 million AAV through the 2028-29 season, the 22-year-old Newmarket, ON native would give the Maple Leafs a piece who helps now, and would be a huge part of their core moving forward.

With a rising salary cap the next few seasons, Byfield’s cap hit is very manageable, especially if he’s producing to his potential. So far this season, the young centre has posted 35 points in 60 games, he scored 20 goals as a 21-year-old, and at 6-foot-5, is still filling out his frame.

We’ve seen teams have to overpay to land anyone on this year’s trade market, so Kings’ GM Rob Blake will want a massive package in return, but why not give up on some ‘lottery tickets’ for a 22-year-old, who has already shown what he’s capable of in this league, is someone who is a very coachable player and could develop into a two-way force under Berube’s guidance?

Get ready, hockey fans! The Daily Faceoff Deadline is happening on March 7th from 11 AM to 4 PM Eastern, and you won’t want to miss it. We’ll be LIVE, breaking down every trade and big move as it happens, with instant reactions and expert analysis from the Daily Faceoff crew. Plus, we’ve got special guests lined up throughout the show, offering exclusive insights from some of the biggest names in the game. From blockbuster trades to surprise moves, we’re covering it all. Tune in to the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel and follow Daily Faceoff socials on March 7th to catch all the action!