Friday’s NHL trade deadline is approaching fast, and the Toronto Maple Leafs are bound to make a move. A trade for Toronto will likely consist of an asset considered for the future. The Maple Leafs have a handful of prospects and draft picks that could be in play ahead of the deadline. Therefore, it’s a good time to review the team’s youngsters and draft capita.
Toronto’s Futures Are In Play
Easton Cowan
Cowan is probably the most valuable prospect and future piece in the Maple Leafs organization. He was Toronto’s first-round pick with the 28th pick in the 2023 draft. The 19-year-old has played two seasons with the OHL’s London Knights since being drafted. Last season, he scored 34 goals and 96 points in 54 games. The Knights went on to win the OHL championship and went as far as the Memorial Cup final, losing to the Windsor Spitfires. Furthermore, between last season and this season, Cowan had a point streak that lasted 65 games.
This year, Cowan has slightly dropped off in the points department, scoring 24 goals and 51 points in 39 games. In a 68-game season, he’d be projected to score more goals, but a total of 88 points. Typically, the longer players play in the OHL, the more dominant they should become. This was not the case for Cowan. In addition, he had a big role with Team Canada in the World Junior Championship as one of the alternate captains. However, Canada was knocked out early and Cowan finished the tournament with three points in five games.
In other words, Cowan hasn’t been the exciting prospect that fans and maybe management would have hoped for. However, he still has plenty of offensive upside and is only 19 years old. Nonetheless, Cowan could be an interesting asset as the deadline creeps up.
Fraser Minten
Minten is a highly-regarded player in the Leafs franchise. According to David Pagnotta of TheFourthPeriod, the Philadelphia Flyers have been interested in Minten for at least a month. Toronto have been interested in centre Scott Laughton and defenceman Rasmus Ristolainen, leading to Philadelphia’s interest in the Leafs’ prospect. Teams may be interested in the young centre because of his experience in the NHL. The 20-year-old has played 19 games with the Maple Leafs in parts of last season and this season. This year, Minten has two goals and two assists in 15 games. He held his own when Toronto was riddled with injuries between late November and February.
Some of the interest in Minten could also be because of the exposure he has to professional hockey now. Since his stint in the NHL, he’s been with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. Minten has played 25 games, scoring six goals and 13 points in the minors this season. The Vancouver native has shown great signs of hockey IQ and responsibility on both sides of the puck, a rarity in young players.
Ben Danford
Danford is the latest of Toronto’s top draft picks. He was selected 31st overall in the first round of the 2024 draft. The defenceman is in his third season with the OHL’s Oshawa Generals. In 55 games, he’s scored five goals and recorded 17 helpers for 22 points. The 19-year-old is known for his shutdown ability and physical presence. Back in February, Danford went viral for his massive hit and fight against the Brampton Steelheads.
#LeafsForever prospect Ben Danford with a huge hit on Porter Martone and a decisive victory in the ensuing fight with Stevie Leskovar
?: @GeneralsUpdates pic.twitter.com/le8VDHWtmg
— Nick Richard (@_NickRichard) February 20, 2025
The right-handed blueliner hasn’t been brought up often in the lead-up to the traded deadline. However, his availability should not be ignored, especially since the Leafs might want to hold onto their 2026 first-round pick, as well as Minten and Cowan.
Draft Picks
Draft picks are the most used assets for trade by all teams in the league. There’s obviously a big risk in moving draft picks because it’s the future of the franchise that’s at stake. Alternatively, those picks allow the chance to acquire great talent without giving away important roster players. The Maple Leafs will likely have to resort to that option ahead of Friday.
According to PuckPedia, Toronto has five draft picks this season. They have a second-round pick, owned by the Florida Panthers, a third-round pick owned by the Edmonton Oilers, as well as a fifth, sixth, and seventh. Next season, the Leafs own their first-round pick as well as the third and fifth-round picks in 2026. Toronto also has a sixth-round pick next year, owned by the San Jose Sharks.
Main Photo Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
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