Friedman Breaks Down Canadian Teams After the Trade Deadline

Elliotte Friedman took a look at how the Canadian teams handled things, and, like most deadlines, the results were a mixed bag. Some teams stocked up. Some stayed quiet. And a few are clearly trying to reset.

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The Maple Leafs Were All About Assets

Let’s start in Toronto, where the Maple Leafs were busy doing a little asset management. Nicolas Roy was moved to Colorado; Scott Laughton to Los Angeles; and Bobby McMann to Seattle. One interesting wrinkle is the draft pick involved in the Laughton deal. That pick could move from a third-rounder up to a second-rounder if certain conditions are met, including the Los Angeles Kings making the playoffs.

The Maple Leafs weren’t necessarily making one massive splash. Instead, it looked more like they were trying to collect pieces and adjust around the edges, something teams often do when they feel their core is already set.

The Canucks Are Engaged in a Full Rebuild

Over in Vancouver, things look very different. The Canucks continued what looks more and more like a full rebuild. Tyler Myers, Conor Garland, and David Kämpf were all moved. However, two players expected to move — Evander Kane and Teddy Blueger — stayed put despite some speculation.

The Canucks are sitting in a strange spot at the moment. It wasn’t that long ago they gave Edmonton everything in a Game 7 second-round series — that was one of the most exciting playoffs in 2024. Then, it seemed like Vancouver was headed somewhere big. Now, not even two years on, they’re retooling and just figuring out their next move.

The Jets Won’t Make the Playoffs, But Aren’t a Bad Team

In Winnipeg, the Jets took a slightly different approach. They made a gamble on a player who might simply need a fresh start. Isak Rosén, a former first-round pick who has been scoring well in the AHL but couldn’t crack Buffalo’s lineup, is exactly the kind of project Winnipeg seems willing to take a chance on.

The Jets also moved Logan Stanley, Luke Schenn, and Tanner Pearson to the Sabres. Winnipeg might not make the playoffs this year, but the sense around the team is they don’t believe they’re as bad as this season has looked.

The Canadiens Did Nothing at the Deadline

And finally there’s Montreal, where the Canadiens did… well, nothing. At least officially.

General manager Kent Hughes hinted that something had been discussed late in the process and might be revisited later. That little comment has left plenty of people guessing about what might have been on the table. As always, the trade deadline answers a few questions — and creates a few new ones.

Related: That the Maple Leafs Would Even Listen Is Lunacy