Proposal Suggests Maple Leafs Reacquire $13 Million Forward in Major Trade Deal
The Toronto Maple Leafs are in their prime Stanley Cup contention window, and a trade proposal suggests they could acquire two key forwards. Using PuckPedia’s PuckGM tool, a user proposed a trade where the Maple Leafs would re-acquire Michael Bunting from the Pittsburgh Penguins.
In the proposed deal, Toronto would receive Bunting and O’Connor in exchange for Liljegren, Robertson, and a first-round pick. Bunting, who played for Toronto from 2021 to 2023, left as a free agent, signing a three-year, $13.5 million contract with the Carolina Hurricanes before being traded to Pittsburgh mid-season. Bunting could bring much-needed offense and physicality back to the Leafs, having recorded 46 goals and 66 assists in 161 games with the team. O’Connor, a 26-year-old forward in the final year of his two-year, $1.85 million deal, would likely slot into Toronto’s third or fourth line.
In return, Toronto would send Liljegren, a former first-round pick who has been scratched early this season and signed a two-year, $6 million extension. A change of scenery is seen as beneficial for him. Robertson, who sought a trade earlier but signed a one-year, $875,000 deal, could provide the Penguins with a top-six forward option.
Liljegren, Toronto’s eighth defenseman, appears to be on the trading block, as reported by NHL insider Elliotte Friedman. Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube has expressed dissatisfaction with Liljegren’s game, urging him to play more decisively and with physicality.
In a recent game between Toronto and Pittsburgh, Bunting clashed with Maple Leafs defenseman Simon Benoit, who accused Bunting of diving to draw penalties. Despite acknowledging Bunting’s effectiveness, Benoit criticized his tactics, stating, “I just don’t like divers.”
