As the Toronto Maple Leafs enter a critical Stanley Cup window, they may look to bolster their roster with the experience of two-time Stanley Cup champion Blake Coleman. Using PuckPedia’s PuckGM tool, a fan-proposed trade would see Toronto acquire Coleman from the Calgary Flames in exchange for young talents Timothy Liljegren and Nicholas Robertson—both of whom could fit Calgary’s rebuilding efforts.
Coleman, known for his gritty play and clutch performances with the Tampa Bay Lightning’s back-to-back Cup wins, could slot perfectly into Toronto’s third line, adding much-needed depth scoring and defensive prowess. Now in the fourth year of his six-year, $29.4 million contract, Coleman notched 30 goals and 24 assists with Calgary last season. His ability to shut down top lines and chip in offensively could be the missing piece for a Maple Leafs team eager to end their Cup drought.
In return, Toronto would send 2017 first-round pick Liljegren and 2019 second-round pick Robertson to Calgary. Both players have struggled to secure consistent roles in Toronto, and Liljegren, despite a recent two-year, $6 million extension, has seen limited ice time, with new coach Craig Berube calling for “quicker and heavier” play. Meanwhile, Robertson requested a trade in the offseason, and although he re-signed on a one-year, $875,000 deal, he remains underutilized in Toronto.
While Calgary is anticipated to struggle this season, head coach Ryan Huska isn’t concerned about external doubts, emphasizing that the Flames are focused on their own growth and standards. If this trade happens, it’s a win-win scenario: Toronto gains the veteran leadership they need, while Calgary adds promising young assets to fuel their rebuild.
