The Toronto Maple Leafs are going to look quite a bit different next season after a summer full of changes.
A forward group without Mitch Marner will take some getting used to; however, what does remain intact is the blue line. The corps of McCabe, Tanev, Rielly, Carlo, Ekman-Larsson, and Benoit are all still around and expected to make up the six-pack on Toronto’s back end.
Many felt the Maple Leafs needed to shake things up on defense, with Rielly and Carlo as the two most speculated trade candidates. While nothing has yet come to fruition, that doesn’t appear to be for a lack of trying.
According to Maple Leafs writer Howard Berger, general manager Brad Treliving has been talking to the Mammoth about star defenseman Mikhail Sergachev. He shared the update on X (formerly Twitter).
“Told the #Leafs have talked to #Utah about defenseman Mikhail Sergachev. Age 27. Cap hit $8.5 million. Full NMC. 53 points last season for the #Mammoth. Creative cap work would be required by #Toronto with only $1.9 million in current space…,” Berger wrote.
Told the #Leafs have talked to #Utah about defenceman Mikhail Sergachev. Age 27. Cap hit $8.5 million. Full NMC. 53 points last season for the #Mammoth. Creative cap work would be required by #Toronto with only $1.9 million in current space… https://t.co/WKnhToClz7 #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/t6rwG8VncZ
— Howard Berger (@Berger_BYTES) August 30, 2025
Sergachev will be entering the third season of the eight-year, $68 million contract he originally signed with the Lightning before the trade that sent him to Utah in 2024.
Toronto’s blue line could use a jolt
While it feels unlikely that the Utah Mammoth will trade Mikhail Sergachev just one year removed from giving up a haul to acquire him, that shouldn’t stop Brad Treliving from calling.
The Maple Leafs need more offense from their defense, and that will have to come from the outside. Toronto ranked near the bottom in goals and points by defensemen in 2024-25, something that Treliving clearly knows has to be fixed.
When the checking gets tighter and the going gets tougher in the playoffs, having guys that can move the puck and be an offensive threat when they join the rush is a necessity to go on a deep run.
Whether the Maple Leafs have not only the assets but also the stomach to pull off a bold move and acquire that type of player remains to be seen.
