The Toronto Maple Leafs looked to upgrade their bottom six this offseason, which is what they did.
Toronto still could use help at center, as the Maple Leafs brought in Nick Paul from the Tampa Bay Lightning to be the third-line center. However, Toronto still could make a trade during the year to bolster the lineup. So, NHL analyst Michael Derosa of FanSided urges the Maple Leafs to acquire local player Morgan Frost from the Calgary Flames.
“Morgan Frost is another former first-round pick who could make a lot of sense for the Maple Leafs to target ahead of next season’s trade deadline. The 27-year-old center is entering the final season of his contract with the rebuilding Flames in 2026-27 and has come up in the rumor mill often because of it,” Derosa wrote.
“Frost would give the Maple Leafs a clear answer for their third-line center spot and power play if acquired but he could also jump up to their second line if needed. The 2017 first-round pick appeared in 82 games last season with Calgary, where he recorded 22 goals and 43 points.”
Frost is entering the final year of his two-year, $8.75 million deal, so he could be dealt before the trade deadline as Calgary is unlikely to be competitive this season.
Frost’s dad used to be the Maple Leafs’ PA announcer, so he would be a fan favorite and fill the third-line center role. He recorded 22 goals and 21 assists for 43 points in 82 games last season.
Maple Leafs Bolstered Bottom-Six This Offseason
Toronto hired John Chayka as its new general manager, and he overhauled the roster.
Chayka wanted to upgrade the Maple Leafs’ depth, which was a focus during his overhaul of the bottom six. After free agency, Chayka said he was happy with what Toronto accomplished.
“We felt like we got a lot of different elements to the game that we can then give our coaches now — the flexibility to create a lineup that we feel is now deeper, faster, bigger, heavier, and guys have some roles,” Chayka said on July 1. “We certainly feel like we are a better hockey team today as a result. …
“We needed to make some significant changes to the roster construction, I’d say. As I said, we had some roles we needed to fill, and we needed to create some depth. Certainly, through the spine of our team now, we feel a lot better about our center position through the defense.”
Although the Maple Leafs were active this offseason, Toronto still has to prove they are better on the ice.
Toronto’s Active Offseason
The Maple Leafs were one of the most aggressive and active teams this offseason.
Ahead of the season, Toronto’s notable roster moves were as follows:
- Win the draft lottery, select Gavin McKenna first overall.
- Trade Joseph Woll, Simon Benoit to Flyers for Samuel Ersson, Emil Andrae, 2026 3rd-round pick.
- Sign-and-trade for Darren Raddysh, eight-year, $68M deal.
- Trade Ersson to the Senators for a 2027 fifth-round pick.
- Trade Brandon Carlo to the Blues for 73rd and 76th overall picks in 2026 NHL Draft.
- Deals Nick Robertson to the Penguins for a 2028 fourth-round pick.
- Sign Bobrovsky to a three-year, $21M deal.
- Signs Jack Roslovic to a two-year, $8M deal.
- Inks Colton Sissons to a two-year, $8.5M deal.
- Sign Teddy Blueger to a two-year, $5M deal.
- Signs Brandon Duhaime to a three-year, $7.8M deal.
- Sign Zack MacEwen to a two-year, $1.75M deal.
- Acquire Nick Paul from Lightning for Dennis Hildeby, 2028 3rd, and 2027 4th.
- Sign Gavin McKenna to ELC.
- Sign Emil Andrae to a two-year, $3.1 million deal.
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