The NHL offseason rumor mill has slowed down, with players and executives taking a summer break. However, teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs are still looking to make changes. After significantly altering their blue line, the Leafs are now seeking forward help and might have a few more moves planned.

Back in March, I noted that GM Brad Treliving might consider a major change if the Leafs didn’t perform well in the playoffs. At the time, I wrote:

“Because the money is committed to the top stars, Fox argues Treliving only has one bullet left in his chamber that he can fire during the summer. That would be firing head coach Sheldon Keefe. When asked by Marek if that would be the right decision, Fox responded, ‘What else are you gonna do?’”

Following Toronto’s postseason exit, Keefe was fired and replaced by Craig Berube. Now, four months later, it’s worth considering if Treliving has more moves up his sleeve as the new season approaches.

  Potential Trades: Timothy Liljegren and Nick Robertson

Defenseman Timothy Liljegren could still be traded. He isn’t necessarily a lock in the top four, and his $3 million salary might be too high for a third-pair defenseman. Trading him could help the team acquire a solid third-line center or another top-nine forward. NHL insider Chris Johnston remarked in early July:

“We’ll see if Timothy Liljegren still gets traded. I know he was signed to a two-year extension but I don’t think you can entirely rule out a trade in his circumstance yet. They’re still going to keep chipping away at the roster.”

Liljegren has been the subject of trade rumors for several seasons. His new contract doesn’t necessarily shield him from future trade talks, especially depending on Jani Hakanpaa’s situation.

Similarly, Nick Robertson has been in the rumor mill for years. Reports suggest Robertson wanted a fresh start elsewhere. Despite the Leafs expressing a desire to keep him and Treliving seeing potential in him, the relationship is tenuous. Teams that missed out on forwards in free agency might inquire about him.

 PTO Candidates

In late July and early August, teams will start looking at candidates for professional tryouts (PTOs). Free agents who haven’t signed deals may look for opportunities to join teams during camp. Toronto will likely consider PTOs given their salary cap situation. Last season, Noah Gregor earned a spot this way, playing 63 games for the Leafs. While he wasn’t re-signed, this approach has been fruitful. Names like James van Riemsdyk, Tyler Johnson, Justin Schultz, and Kevin Shattenkirk are still available and could be intriguing if Liljegren is traded and Hakanpaa is unavailable.

Signing a forward or two to a PTO adds competition for the young players like Easton Cowan, Nick Robertson, and Fraser Minten, who will need to earn their spots.

 The Mitch Marner Trade Possibility

While signs point to Mitch Marner staying put, the biggest potential move for the Leafs would be trading him in a blockbuster deal. This trade could be considered if other moves fail or if Marner decides to leave. Trading Marner would quickly free up significant cap space, although it’s a risky and challenging move. Regardless of the current discussions, a trade could still happen unexpectedly.