Several No-Trade Clauses Will Impact the Maple Leafs 2026-27 Season – The Hockey Writers – Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs hold the distinction of having more contracts on their books with trade protection than any other NHL franchise this season. It will almost certainly affect the team moving forward, and the hope is that it doesn’t box the organization into a corner, especially given that there’s no telling how good or poor this team will be yet.

On the team’s 23-man active roster, only five forwards lack trade protection: Matthew Knies, Jack Roslovic, Teddy Blueger, Steven Lorentz, Easton Cowan, and Zack MacEwan. For the sake of argument, let’s say six, assuming Gavin McKenna makes the team and plays in the NHL all season. On defense, it’s Emil Andrae and Troy Stecher. Both goalies hold protection.

That’s it, for a total of eight players.

Why Does This Matter?

Any time a team is overloaded with contracts that include trade protection, things get complicated. It’s not that a player can’t still be moved. It’s that the player must first agree, depending on the specifics of that trade protection. A modified no-trade means the team has some flexibility. For example, newly signed Colton Scissons has a 10-team no-trade list. It means he can list 10 franchises he won’t accept a trade to. Max Domi has a 13-team list. Dakota Joshua’s is 12… A full no-trade means they aren’t going anywhere without first agreeing. A no-move prevents a team from trading, waiving, loaning, or assigning a player to the minor leagues (AHL) without the player’s explicit written consent.

Even for players with modified protection, the Maple Leafs have to work around those clauses to make deals work. That’s not always easy. It first requires that the market be somewhat receptive to Toronto’s player being shopped. Then, of the teams interested, they can’t be on the no-trade list. From there, the remaining teams have to work out a trade that makes sense. It is possible. Trades have happened where each of these criteria is met.

It’s one thing to manage it once, maybe twice. But expecting the Maple Leafs to do this 15 times—please note the hyperbole—in a season is a reach. That’s going to handcuff GM John Chayka if he needs to start shopping players or upgrading the roster. Players aren’t always keen to leave. Even if they are, they’ll be able to stop several opportunities.

What Does This Leave the Maple Leafs With?

Toronto’s options become limited or less attractive. In some cases, the players they can move aren’t the ones Chayka wants to trade.

Look at Knies, for example. His name remains out there, if for no other reason than that the Maple Leafs can take the best deal with no restrictions. In a perfect world, Knies remains with the Leafs and is a big part of their future. In Toronto’s real world, Chayka may have to shop him if things go south.

The same could be said for Easton Cowan. McKenna will attract a wide audience, but he is definitely not on the table.

Alternatively, what’s the market for a player like Roslovic if he doesn’t perform well? The answer is practically nothing. This is a player who struggled to find work last season and, on the heels of a decent run with the Edmonton Oilers, got a two-year contract with the Maple Leafs. If he’s not scoring, he’s not all that useful. And if he’s not useful to Toronto, he won’t be perceived as useful to another team.

Needless to say, a lot of things have to go right this season for these no-trade clauses not to become a factor. The team has to win. Individual players have to perform. The club needs to remain relatively healthy. That’s a lot to ask of a club that did some serious retooling this offseason.