Whenever the NHL Trade Deadline rolls around, there are few people with a more interesting perspective on things than Brian Burke. The former Toronto Maple Leafs general manager from 2008-2013 has been all around the league, and while his tenure in Toronto isn’t exactly looked back on with fondness, he’s somebody who’s been in the best of situations as well as the worst of them.

Burke joined Nick Alberga and Jay Rosehill on Leafs Morning Take on Thursday to discuss a wide array of topics including the state of the Maple Leafs, the rumours surrounding the Schenn brothers, and what it’s like to be a general manager around the trade deadline. With the Maple Leafs having won seven of their last eight games, Burke said that he doesn’t have many gripes with the way they’re currently constructed.

“Well, I like their team. They made it more interesting than they needed to on Tuesday, but I like their team,” Burke said. “I think they’ve got a good team, they’re top heavy, they can score, depending on how bad Chris Tanev’s injury is, they’re probably one defenceman away from what they like as a lineup. I like the goaltending when they’re healthy, I’d be a little bit concerned about the fact that both goaltenders have been hurt, but if they’re healthy, they don’t have many holes in that lineup.”

The Leafs regained sole possession of the Atlantic Division lead with a win over the New York Rangers on Friday night, and they have a game in hand on the Florida Panthers, who are one point behind. To Burke, however, the league’s biggest threat is in the other conference.

“The problem is, I watched Winnipeg play last night, then you say, who’s going to beat Winnipeg? The answer right now is nobody.” he said.

The latest rumours that have swirled around the Maple Leafs involve St. Louis Blues captain Brayden Schenn, who the Maple Leafs have been said to be interested in but would have to pay a hefty price to acquire. With the Nashville Predators also struggling and likely to sell off some pieces, Schenn’s older brother Luke has worked his way into the same rumours. Burke spoke fondly of both players but said not to expect both to move in the same deal, at least to Toronto.

“I can’t see both Schenns going, I think that would be a real high price tag to get them both. Both those guys are good players. That would be quite cool if somebody could get brothers though, I’ve seen it done, it’s kind of cool.” Burke said slyly.

For those who don’t remember, Burke started a domino effect of trades at the 1999 NHL Draft that ended up with his Vancouver Canucks selecting both Daniel and Henrik Sedin with the second and third overall picks.

Sticking on the topic of the Schenn brothers, Burke wasn’t able to come up with an answer when asked if he thinks the Leafs would benefit more trading for Brayden or Luke.

“I think they’d benefit from either one. That’s a crappy answer, I know you’re asking to pick one or the other, but I think they’d both help. Very different players obviously, but they both provide grit, both quality people that would add to the room right away, so I think either one of them would add. I think both are going to go, too.”

There’s officially less than a week remaining until the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, and whether it’s the Schenn brothers or Philadelphia Flyers forward Scott Laughton, the Maple Leafs will be right in the mix of things and looking to fill their gaps before they take another kick at the postseason can.

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!