The Toronto Maple Leafs have had a quiet off-season in terms of acquisitions thus far. Their biggest additions were acquiring Nicolas Roy from the Vegas Golden Knights [https://thn.com/vegas] in exchange for Mitch Marner and bringing in playmaking winger Matias Maccelli [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/matias-maccelli-could-be-the-answer-on-the-maple-leafs-top-line] from the Utah Mammoth [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/utah]. On Thursday, they sent little-used enforcer Ryan Reaves to the San Jose Sharks [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/toronto-maple-leafs-trade-enforcer-ryan-reaves-to-san-jose-sharks] for depth defenseman Henry Thrun. Sportsnet's Sonny Sachdeva included the Maple Leafs [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs] among his five teams [https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/5-teams-looking-to-make-trades-after-quiet-nhl-free-agency/] that he believes could make moves during a quiet free-agency period. While Roy and Maccelli are good players, Sachdeva believes the Leafs must do more to replace Marner's offense. The Leafs' need for another scoring forward prompted Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun to suggest a reunion [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/nhl-rumor-roundup-could-kadri-reunite-with-the-maple-leafs-will-the-sabres-match-an-offer-sheet-for-byram] with Nazem Kadri. That's unlikely to happen given Kadri's importance to the Calgary Flames [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/calgary-flames] as they attempt to contend for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Sachdeva suggested Pittsburgh Penguins [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins] forwards Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust as possible trade options. Rakell is coming off a career-best 35-goal season and has three years left on his contract with an average annual value of $5 million. Rust also has three years remaining on his deal ($5.125 million AAV) and reached career highs of 31 goals and 65 points this past season. PuckPedia indicates [https://puckpedia.com/team/toronto-maple-leafs] the Leafs have $5.33 million in cap space for this season with 23 active roster players under contract. Sachdeva cited colleague Elliotte Friedman reporting that forwards Calle Jarnkrok ($2.1 million AAV) and David Kampf ($2.4 million) are candidates to be traded out of Toronto, which would free up $4.5 million in cap space. Rickard Rakell and Auston Matthews (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/c3553c76-1ce2-4454-aae5-d53f05eb0b8e.jpeg] Rickard Rakell and Auston Matthews (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images) Rust lacks no-trade protection, and Rakell has an eight-team no-trade list. Josh Yohe of The Athletic reported on July 7 there is considerable interest [https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6478036/2025/07/07/penguins-bryan-rust-rickard-rakell-trade-rumors/?source=emp_shared_article] around the league in both players, but Penguins GM Kyle Dubas isn't under pressure to move either guy. Dubas could be uninterested in Jarnkrok or Kampf unless a high pick is included in the deal. Meanwhile, RG.Org's James Murphy reported [https://rg.org/news/hockey/maple-leafs-among-teams-interested-penguins-erik-karlsson] the Maple Leafs are among multiple teams interested in Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson. He cited an NHL source claiming the Leafs seek another puck-moving defenseman, noting they were also linked to Dougie Hamilton of the New Jersey Devils [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils]. Murphy claimed there's a widespread belief that the Penguins would have to retain a portion of their share ($10 million) of Karlsson's $11.5 million AAV to facilitate a trade. He also said the Detroit Red Wings [https://thn.com/detroit], Anaheim Ducks [https://thn.com/anaheim], Mammoth [https://thehockeynews.com/news/community/latest-news/utah-mammoth-interested-in-erik-karlsson] and Dallas Stars [https://thn.com/dallas] were interested in the three-time Norris Trophy winner. Karlsson has a full no-movement clause but could waive it [https://x.com/NHLRumourReport/status/1937360959577657682] to join a contender. That rules out all but the Stars, which have less than $2 million in cap space [https://puckpedia.com/team/dallas-stars]. The Penguins' asking price for Karlsson could include a first-round pick, a top prospect or a good young NHL player, assets that the Leafs have little to part with. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here [http://eepurl.com/i7OC4I]. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.
