Imagine a world where the Toronto Maple Leafs flip it, turn the trend upside down.
Where the American gold medallist doesn’t only wish to remain in the Canadian city that drafted him but welcomes another U.S. star north of the border. And the two of them try to win a Stanley Cup on foreign soil.
For years, the Maple Leafs have whispered about the possibility of a “Kawhi move,” the one where they rattle the league and truly push all-in, spending off the current roster and not simply shedding first-round picks.
Zach Werenski is available, less than three weeks after being awarded the Norris Trophy as hockey’s best defenceman.
He’s in his prime (age 28). He’s hot off back-to-back 20-goal, 80-point, 26-plus-minutes-per-night campaigns. And, reportedly, he is open to the idea of waiving his no-movement clause to one Canadian team.
The same one captained by a friend and fellow Olympic champion, Auston Matthews, with whom Werenski shares an agent (Judd Moldaver) and a contract expiration date (July 1, 2028).
John Chayka, you may never have a shot at trading for a difference-maker of this calibre again.
Bringing Werenski to Toronto — less than a four-hour drive from his native Grosse Point, Michigan — won’t be easy or cheap.
But it’s worth the Leafs’ best shot.
And, as Chayka teased after Saturday’s draft, he is entertaining some “bigger swings” in the market. (The Leafs are also believed to have varying degrees of interest in pending UFAs Sergei Bobrovsky, Mason Marchment, and Patrick Kane, as well as a Vincent Trocheck trade.)
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
And the Werenski situation is turning into a five-alarm blaze in Columbus.
This could be Quinn Hughes and Brady Tkachuk all over again.
Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos added Werenski to his trade board Friday, linking the Leafs as a potential partner: “Would a deal around Matthew Knies and Colorado's 2027 first-round pick be a good place to start? Does prospect defenceman Ben Danford excite anyone after his performance in the Calder Cup playoffs? Would the Jackets want to explore having Rielly in this package?”
The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun added Saturday that Toronto is the only Canadian destination in a competitive mix for a left-shot defenceman. Also mentioned: Tampa Bay, Dallas, Philadelphia, San Jose, and Carolina. (But the Hurricanes are now trying their luck with two years of pending UFA John Carlson instead.)
Sharpen your pencils, gentlemen.
Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell is set to meet with his MVP next week, but the executive’s understanding is that neither Werenski nor star winger Kirill Marchenko (RFA 2027) are interested in re-signing long-term in Ohio.
Two playoff runs with Werenski, of course, are worth more on the trade market than one. Waddell is taking calls, trying to get ahead of this mess.
“I’ve told everybody we’re dealing with that we’re not talking about draft picks at this point,” Waddell told reporters. “If we’re going to trade any players off our team, we need players.
“To trade any player for a first-round pick, that may sound good. But it doesn’t do us any good for the next three years. I don’t think the draft, in this case, has any impact on what we do with (Werenski).”
Knies is a player. He can’t block a trade. He’s in his prime and comes with a cost certainty Waddell would like (five years at a reasonable $7.75 million). He feels like the best legitimate starting point. (Yes, we just argued for Toronto to be careful trading him, but we’re doing it in a blink for the Norris winner.)
But if you’re Waddell, you’re asking for Easton Cowan and/or Danford and/or Colorado’s 2027 first-rounder, which Chayka owns. Perhaps the Leafs could sweeten the deal with, say, a Nick Robertson (RFA) or Dennis Hildeby. Would Columbus take lefty Morgan Rielly to help the money work? (Werenski makes $9.58 million until Hughes and Cale Makar reset the market.)
Consider that Minnesota’s Hughes fetched a package of defenceman Zeev Buium, centre Marco Rossi, forward Liam Ohgren, plus a first-rounder for Vancouver. The Canucks were similarly squeezed two years out; Hughes wasn’t re-signing.
Rare that game-breakers of Werenski’s ilk hit the market. Rarer these days is that they’re open to joining a Canadian team.
But Werenski’s experience with Team USA, captained by Matthews, fueled his zest for high-stakes hockey.
“To be honest, it’s the most fun I’ve had playing hockey ever in my life,” Werenski said in Milan (and this was before capturing gold). “Just being around these guys, being in this atmosphere, seeing all the media, just how much attention this tournament's gotten, I haven't had this much fun playing hockey ever.”
Trading for Werenski and keeping him are two different stories. Ask the Wild, now down to one more guaranteed Stanley Cup shot with Hughes: It’s a gamble.
But imagine a world where Werenski enjoys Leafs life. Where his arrival reignites Matthews’ passion, and he, too, warms to re-signing. Where Toronto finally dresses a true No. 1, do-it-all defenceman, and everyone behind him slots in appropriately.
“If you’re, hypothetically, talking about trading the Norris Trophy winner,” Waddell said, “This type of player doesn’t get traded very often.
“If he would hit the market, the players that teams aren’t shopping, the ones they’d like to keep, would be the ones that are available. If we go that direction.”
Chayka must explore that direction with Waddell.
He must consider trading the ones he’d like to keep. Knies. Danford. Maybe even Cowan.
It’s risky, it’s expensive, and it might well be regrettable.
Now, go ask Raptors fans if that tiny window of dining with Kawhi was worth it.
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