<p>The Toronto Maple Leafs would reportedly like to acquire a middle-six centre before the 2024 Trade Deadline on March 7th.</p>
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<p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6039043/2025/01/06/canucks-pettersson-miller-rangers-quenneville/">The Athletic&#8217;s Chris Johnston</a> did an &#8216;Ask CJ&#8217; mailbag where he fielded questions about the current state of the NHL and the sense he is getting on teams. One question he was asked was about how realistic it would be for the Leafs to acquire a middle-six centre, to which Johnston reported that it is one of their needs and they have the desire to make it happen.</p>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;There are very few guarantees in life, but I’m willing to offer you one: The Leafs will acquire a middle-six center before the trade deadline passes at 3 p.m. ET on March 7. It’s a need management identified months ago. As for who it will be? The market of available players hasn’t taken enough shape yet to allow us to identify the top candidate. But the Leafs have the picks and prospects needed to make that kind of addition, and they have the desire, too.&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<p>This will surely be music to the ears of Leafs fans who have been clamouring for the team to shore up their depth down the middle, given the steep drop-off in talent beyond their top-six. While Max Domi is far from a bad centre, his best fit is on the wings and the team could benefit from acquiring a player who is responsible at both ends of the ice. As good as the new-look third line of him, Nick Robertson and Bobby McMann has been offensively, there is a noticeable dropoff in defensive play which should be addressed.</p>
<p>While the trade market has yet to fully form given there are still several teams that have yet to distinguish themselves as sellers, some names have emerged in recent weeks as potential options for the Leafs to consider.</p>
<p><a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/are-the-new-york-islanders-a-trade-solution-for-the-maple-leafs-no-3-centre-role" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brock Nelson</a> will likely be among the top players available at the deadline if the New York Islanders begin to fall out of the playoff picture. <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/report-yanni-gourde-would-be-willing-to-waive-his-m-ntc-for-the-maple-leafs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yanni Gourde</a> of the Seattle Kraken is reportedly willing to waive his M-NTC for a move to the Leafs should his team decide to sell off their roster. While he is not a trade target, <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/maple-leafs-among-teams-interested-in-jonathan-toews-comeback" target="_blank" rel="noopener">free-agent Jonathan Toews is a player Daily Faceoff&#8217;s Frank Seravalli noted</a> Toronto is keeping an eye on as he attempts to make a comeback.</p>
<p>It is worth mentioning that Sportsnet&#8217;s Elliotte Friedman reported on December 30th that the Leafs would prefer to surrender assets for a centre that has term left on their contract. This doesn&#8217;t mean they are not considering rentals, but that their ideal acquisition is a player they can keep beyond this season.</p>
<p>“Now, I think their preference is term,&#8221; <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/friedman-maple-leafs-willing-trade-assets-centre-with-term" target="_blank" rel="noopener">he said while on The Fan Hockey Show</a>. &#8220;That’s one thing I’ve heard out there, is that their preference is term. I mean, if there’s a rental they really like, I’m sure they’ll pivot to that too. But, one of the things I’ve heard, is that if they’re going to spend assets on a centre, they would prefer it to be someone with term.”</p>
<p>In any case, the Leafs are likely going to be buyers leading up to the deadline which is nearly two months away and you can count on their big splash being a middle-six centre. This appears to not be a matter of if this move comes to fruition, but when and who they end up acquiring.</p>
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The Toronto Maple Leafs would reportedly like to acquire a middle-six centre before the 2024 Trade Deadline on March 7th.
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<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6039043/2025/01/06/canucks-pettersson-miller-rangers-quenneville/">The Athletic's Chris Johnston</a> did an 'Ask CJ' mailbag where he fielded questions about the current state of the NHL and the sense he is getting on teams. One question he was asked was about how realistic it would be for the Leafs to acquire a middle-six centre, to which Johnston reported that it is one of their needs and they have the desire to make it happen.
<blockquote>"There are very few guarantees in life, but I’m willing to offer you one: The Leafs will acquire a middle-six center before the trade deadline passes at 3 p.m. ET on March 7. It’s a need management identified months ago. As for who it will be? The market of available players hasn’t taken enough shape yet to allow us to identify the top candidate. But the Leafs have the picks and prospects needed to make that kind of addition, and they have the desire, too."</blockquote>
This will surely be music to the ears of Leafs fans who have been clamouring for the team to shore up their depth down the middle, given the steep drop-off in talent beyond their top-six. While Max Domi is far from a bad centre, his best fit is on the wings and the team could benefit from acquiring a player who is responsible at both ends of the ice. As good as the new-look third line of him, Nick Robertson and Bobby McMann has been offensively, there is a noticeable dropoff in defensive play which should be addressed.

While the trade market has yet to fully form given there are still several teams that have yet to distinguish themselves as sellers, some names have emerged in recent weeks as potential options for the Leafs to consider.

<a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/are-the-new-york-islanders-a-trade-solution-for-the-maple-leafs-no-3-centre-role" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brock Nelson</a> will likely be among the top players available at the deadline if the New York Islanders begin to fall out of the playoff picture. <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/report-yanni-gourde-would-be-willing-to-waive-his-m-ntc-for-the-maple-leafs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yanni Gourde</a> of the Seattle Kraken is reportedly willing to waive his M-NTC for a move to the Leafs should his team decide to sell off their roster. While he is not a trade target, <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/maple-leafs-among-teams-interested-in-jonathan-toews-comeback" target="_blank" rel="noopener">free-agent Jonathan Toews is a player Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli noted</a> Toronto is keeping an eye on as he attempts to make a comeback.

It is worth mentioning that Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported on December 30th that the Leafs would prefer to surrender assets for a centre that has term left on their contract. This doesn't mean they are not considering rentals, but that their ideal acquisition is a player they can keep beyond this season.

“Now, I think their preference is term," <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/friedman-maple-leafs-willing-trade-assets-centre-with-term" target="_blank" rel="noopener">he said while on The Fan Hockey Show</a>. "That’s one thing I’ve heard out there, is that their preference is term. I mean, if there’s a rental they really like, I’m sure they’ll pivot to that too. But, one of the things I’ve heard, is that if they’re going to spend assets on a centre, they would prefer it to be someone with term.”

In any case, the Leafs are likely going to be buyers leading up to the deadline which is nearly two months away and you can count on their big splash being a middle-six centre. This appears to not be a matter of if this move comes to fruition, but when and who they end up acquiring.

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Report: Maple Leafs want to acquire a middle-six centre before the NHL trade deadline

Toronto Maple Leafs right wing William Nylander (88) skates with the puck defended by Detroit Red Wings right wing Patrick Kane (88) in the third period at Little Caesars Arena.

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