Brayden Schenn is a popular name in Toronto Maple Leafs circles as the 2025 NHL trade deadline is rapidly on the horizon and Craig Berube appears to be keenly aware.

Schenn played in his 1,000th NHL game on Thursday, recording two assists in a 5-2 victory for the St. Louis Blues over the Washington Capitals. There’s shared history between Schenn and Berube, stemming from their time with the Blues, where they both led the franchise to its first Stanley Cup victory in 2019.

“I congratulated him today,” Berube said of Schenn on Friday. “I love that player. I love the guy. He’s a super human being. 1,000 games is a lot of games in the league. He’s a dedicated player. I always say that: Guys who play that long are dedicated to the game. They do all the right things throughout the summer, game in, and game out, preparing. He’s a very prepared player. He looks after his body, he looks after himself and loves the game. He’s a hockey nerd. It was great to see him 1,000 games. Very happy for him.”

Schenn is widely believed to be the Maple Leafs’ top target ahead of the deadline, although Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reported Thursday that the Blues have set an ‘exorbitant’ price to acquire the 33-year-old. The veteran centre serves as the Blues’ captain and any potential move would change the trajectory of their franchise. Toronto doesn’t have tons of assets to give up in a trade, and it would likely have to part with one of Easton Cowan or Fraser Minten, if not both prospects, in order to facilitate a deal for Schenn. Schenn would immediately constitute the upgrade at third-line centre that the Maple Leafs are prioritizing, with 12 goals and 36 points in 60 games.

It’s not unusual for former head coaches to reach out to their star pupils, but there’s definitely added subtext around Schenn as the March 7 deadline looms large for a Leafs team that has to go all-in at this juncture of their contention timeline.