The Toronto Maple Leafs are heading into a pivotal offseason after a disappointing 2025-26 campaign that ended without a playoff appearance. With expectations high and pressure mounting, general manager John Chayka is expected to explore every avenue to reshape the roster and get the franchise back into contention.
With 2026 tapped to be an interesting little summer for the trade market, one Leafs insider is speculating that a Team USA gold medalist may be within Toronto's reach if they just dream big enough.
The latest name to surface in Maple Leafs trade speculation is Columbus Blue Jackets ' Norris Trophy winner, Zach Werenski . The Team USA star still has two years remaining on his six-year, $57.5 million contract and is coming off the best season of his career.
Werenski captured the 2025-26 Norris Trophy after recording 81 points, including 22 goals and 59 assists, finishing ahead of Cale Makar and Rasmus Dahlin in the voting. All things considered, his value is at an all-time high, and Columbus has little reason to consider moving one of the league's top defensemen.
Even so, NHL analyst Jonas Siegel recently floated the idea of Toronto making a bold move for Werenski as the Maple Leafs look to upgrade their blue line. "What about a much bigger, better, age-appropriate swing if it were at all possible: Zach Werenski?" Siegel speculated.
"If the Columbus Blue Jackets were concerned at all about Werenski's willingness to stick around beyond the two years remaining on his contract, would they consider a deal with Knies as the headliner?"
"Or what about using the No. 1 overall pick instead in a deal for Werenski? Would the Leafs consider that, even if Werenski indicated a long-term desire to play in Toronto?" he added.
Siegel sees Werenski as the type of player who could quickly change the Maple Leafs' outlook. He believes adding an elite defenseman of his caliber, alongside a top young prospect and the right coaching hire, could put Toronto back to contending, while giving Auston Matthews more confidence in the team's future.
While the idea is certainly appealing from Toronto's perspective, turning it into reality would be extremely difficult.
Werenski is under contract for two more seasons with a $9.58 million cap hit and has a full no-movement clause. More importantly, Columbus has given no sign that it wants to trade a player who just won the Norris Trophy and is considered a key part of the franchise's future.
For now, the rumor seems more like speculation than a realistic trade possibility. Toronto would love to add a player like Werenski, but Columbus is unlikely to move one of its franchise stars, and Werenski's no-movement clause gives him full control over any potential trade.
