The Toronto Maple Leafs may have another reason to keep Zach Werenski on their radar. Just when his future with the Columbus Blue Jackets appeared settled, a new warning from Sportsnet has brought the reigning Norris Trophy winner back into the NHL trade rumor conversation.
Sportsnet’s Michael Amato questioned Sunday whether Columbus can convince Werenski to remain with the organization long-term. The Blue Jackets had managed only eight points through their opening nine games, leaving a franchise desperate to return to the playoffs facing uncomfortable questions.
Here’s what makes this particularly interesting for Toronto: Werenski was reportedly open to the Maple Leafs during the summer, and the organization has since been linked to a willingness to sacrifice a premium asset for a difference-making defenseman.
There is no confirmed new trade negotiation between Toronto and Columbus. However, the conditions that made Werenski available for discussion earlier this year could become relevant again.
And if Columbus cannot turn its season around, the Maple Leafs might have an opportunity worth exploring.
Why Zach Werenski Trade Rumors Are Returning to Columbus
The latest development came October 25, when Sportsnet’s Michael Amato examined the Blue Jackets’ disappointing start.
Columbus entered the weekend near the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Even Saturday’s 2-1 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights did little to erase concerns about the team’s direction.
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The bigger issue involves Werenski’s future.
The 29-year-old defenseman has two seasons remaining on his contract, but he becomes eligible to negotiate an extension July 1, 2027. Columbus needs to demonstrate meaningful progress before that date.
Amato suggested another wave of trade chatter could develop if the Blue Jackets continue struggling.
I think the important distinction is that this isn’t necessarily about Werenski demanding out. It’s about Columbus running out of opportunities to prove it can compete.
An elite defenseman approaching his next contract negotiation wants more than assurances about the future. He wants evidence on the ice.
For the Blue Jackets, that makes the next several months extremely important.
Zach Werenski’s Summer Trade Drama Could Matter Again
What happened during the offseason gives this story considerably more credibility than an ordinary hypothetical trade proposal.
On July 1, Elliotte Friedman reported that Columbus and Dallas had reached a verbal agreement on a Werenski trade.
Dallas defenseman Thomas Harley was reportedly the centerpiece of the proposed return.
Werenski exercised his full no-movement clause and rejected the deal.
According to reporting summarized by The Athletic’s Chris Johnston, Werenski preferred remaining in the Eastern Conference, with Toronto and Tampa Bay considered acceptable destinations.
That doesn’t establish that Toronto made a formal offer. It does establish that the Maple Leafs were mentioned as a destination the player could consider.
The situation subsequently changed. Werenski and general manager Don Waddell reaffirmed their commitment to one another. In September, Werenski told NHL.com:
“Columbus is where I want to be.”
He also expressed optimism about signing an extension when eligible.
That is the latest clear statement of his intentions, and it deserves to be respected.
Still, the Blue Jackets’ opening-month performance has reopened the question of whether the team can deliver the competitive environment he wants.
Why the Toronto Maple Leafs Would Want Zach Werenski
Toronto’s interest in elite defensive talent isn’t difficult to understand. Elliotte Friedman reported October 17 that the Maple Leafs would consider moving a prime asset for a substantial blue-line upgrade.
The report followed Chris Tanev’s upper-body injury, which created another challenge for Toronto’s defensive depth.
Werenski would represent something far greater than an injury replacement.
He’s a legitimate franchise defenseman capable of playing enormous minutes, running a power play, creating offense from the back end and driving possession through difficult matchups.
Last season, Werenski produced 22 goals and 81 points in 75 games while winning the Norris Trophy.
Through his first nine games of 2026-27, he had six assists and was averaging approximately 29 minutes per game.
That workload tells me something important.
Columbus isn’t simply using Werenski as an offensive specialist. The Blue Jackets rely on him to influence nearly every important phase of a game.
Toronto already has established defensemen, including Morgan Rielly, Darren Raddysh and Jake McCabe.
However, adding Werenski would give the Maple Leafs another elite puck-moving presence capable of changing how opponents defend them.
The question isn’t whether Toronto would benefit.
It’s whether the organization could justify the acquisition cost.
Zach Werenski: By the Numbers
Columbus Blue Jackets | October 26, 2026
The early-season rate reflects only nine games. It is not a projection of full-season production. Sources: NHL.com and PuckPedia.
Could the Maple Leafs Actually Afford Zach Werenski?
This is where an exciting hockey idea becomes a complicated financial exercise.
Werenski carries a salary-cap hit of approximately $9.58 million through the 2027-28 season.
Toronto is already managing a tight cap structure and multiple injuries. PuckPedia’s October 26 roster snapshot showed approximately $2.39 million in current cap space, with long-term injured reserve calculations affecting its overall cap position.
Simply adding Werenski without moving meaningful salary would not work.
Here’s an illustrative calculation.
Werenski’s $9.58 million cap hit, minus Toronto’s approximately $2.39 million in current room, leaves roughly $7.20 million requiring an offset.
Morgan Rielly carries a $7.5 million annual cap hit. A hypothetical Rielly-for-Werenski salary exchange would therefore add approximately $2.08 million to Toronto’s commitments.
But there’s a significant obstacle.
Rielly also has a no-movement clause. Both players would have to approve their respective moves, and Columbus would need to value the return.
These are hypothetical salary calculations, not evidence that Rielly is being offered or that either player would agree to a trade.
Can Toronto Fit Zach Werenski?
2026–27 AAV comparison | USD
*Illustrative PuckPedia snapshot for October 26. This is basic cap-hit arithmetic, not a verified cap-compliant transaction. Both players have no-movement clauses; neither has been reported to approve this exchange. LTIR rules, replacement players and changing roster space may affect actual trade eligibility.
What Would a Zach Werenski Trade Cost Toronto?
This is where I believe Maple Leafs fans should be careful about assuming a straightforward blockbuster is possible.
The previously discussed Dallas trade reportedly featured Thomas Harley, a young, established top-pairing defenseman.
That suggests Columbus was seeking a player capable of providing substantial value immediately rather than collecting draft picks alone.
Toronto’s 2027 first-round pick could be an attractive component. Easton Cowan is another young player who would naturally attract attention in discussions involving premium assets.
A hypothetical package featuring Cowan, a first-round pick and an established NHL defenseman illustrates the type of sacrifice Toronto might have to contemplate.
However, there is no report confirming those players have been offered.
The problem is that Columbus would likely want a younger defensive cornerstone, not simply another expensive veteran.
Toronto also needs to consider whether moving multiple young assets would weaken the roster around Auston Matthews.
My view is that the Leafs should pursue Werenski only if the organization believes it can retain him beyond 2028.
Trading away major future assets for two seasons of an elite player would be a very different proposition from acquiring a long-term franchise cornerstone.
What Would Werenski Cost Toronto?
Illustrative trade package — not a reported offer
Columbus: Zach Werenski
Our assessment: Significant assets, but Columbus could demand a younger established top-pair defenseman. Player approval and long-term cap commitments remain major obstacles.
Proprietary editorial framework: four categories, 100 possible points. Scores reflect the author’s judgement, not information from negotiations. This proposed package has not been reported by either club or a verified insider.
The Columbus Blue Jackets Have Already Made One Major Toronto Trade
There’s another development that makes this situation especially interesting.
On September 28, the Blue Jackets completed a major trade with the Maple Leafs involving Matthew Knies and Kirill Marchenko.
Columbus received Knies, Steven Lorentz, Emil Andrae and a conditional second-round pick, while Toronto acquired Marchenko, Miles Wood and Elvis Merzlikins.
That transaction matters for two reasons.
First, general managers John Chayka and Don Waddell have already demonstrated they can negotiate a substantial trade together.
Second, Toronto has already spent meaningful roster capital reshaping its team.
Columbus now has Knies as an important long-term building block, while the Maple Leafs have added another talented offensive player.
Would both general managers be willing to revisit negotiations involving an even more valuable player?
Perhaps. But previous cooperation doesn’t establish current discussions.
It simply creates an interesting backdrop if Werenski’s availability ever changes.
What Would Have to Happen for Toronto to Get Another Chance?
I see four developments that could turn this from an interesting rumor into a more serious conversation.
First, Columbus would need to keep struggling. A strong recovery could quickly quiet concerns about the franchise’s direction.
Second, Werenski’s position would need to change. His no-movement clause gives him enormous control. Without his approval, there is no trade.
Third, Toronto would need to present an offer built around quality rather than quantity. Columbus has little incentive to exchange a Norris Trophy winner for several secondary assets.
Finally, the Maple Leafs must solve the cap equation without dismantling the roster they’re trying to improve.
There is also an argument for waiting.
Werenski cannot sign his next extension until July 2027. Columbus may prefer to reassess the situation later in the season rather than make a rushed October decision.
That patience could ultimately benefit both sides.
For Toronto, the wisest approach may be to monitor the situation, maintain flexibility and be prepared if circumstances change.
Will Zach Werenski Be Traded to the Maple Leafs?
I wouldn’t call a Werenski trade imminent.
His September commitment to Columbus remains meaningful. The Blue Jackets aren’t actively advertising their best defenseman, and there has been no confirmed new Toronto offer.
Nevertheless, this is a situation worth monitoring.
Werenski has previously considered a move, Toronto was identified as a destination he could accept, and Sportsnet has raised fresh concerns about Columbus’s ability to keep him satisfied.
Those three facts make the potential connection more credible than an ordinary wish-list trade.
My prediction: Werenski remains in Columbus in the immediate future, but his name becomes increasingly prominent in trade discussions if the Blue Jackets fall further behind in the Eastern Conference.
For the Maple Leafs, the biggest decision might not be whether to call Don Waddell.
It might be deciding how much of their future they’re willing to sacrifice if he answers.
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