NHL insider floats bombshell move to reunite Toronto Maple Leafs with Luke Schenn and $18,000,000 center

In recent years, Luke Schenn and Ryan O'Reilly have been following each other around the league. The veteran defenseman and center were both pending unrestricted free agents traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs at the 2023 NHL trade deadline. Following their postseason exit, both then inked longer-term contracts with the Nashville Predators.

After a great first season with Nashville, the Predators have struggled mightily this season, which has raised plenty of questions and trade rumors about some of the veteran players on the roster.

Sports columnist Dave Feschuk appeared on "First Up" on Wednesday and was asked to share his thoughts on potentially bringing Schenn and O'Reilly back to Toronto.

"I'm on Team bring back Ryan O'Reilly and Luke Schenn," Feschuck said. "I'm serious, like there was a real feeling in that room when those guys were part of the Leafs' process and they were on that team that won a playoff series for the first time in 19 years. I really had this real feeling that they changed the tone of that room, not only on the ice. Obviously, they're very good players on the ice, and I think Luke Schenn was a great partner. Ryan O'Reilly, he got hurt later, but, you know, he came out of the box flying as a center alternative for them."

He went on to praise the impact Schenn and O'Reilly had on the Maple Leafs off the ice.

"So I really like what they do on the ice, but even off the ice, the fact that both you guys are very calm, you know, established veterans with, with Stanley Cup credentials, I think, is huge for this team. Was huge for this team." Feschuck added. "I really like presence both of them had, Luke Schenn really got this team together on the road, and in a way it hadn't been together on the road. Look at the Blue Jackets, they've been together on the road a lot this year. They're having great success. I think that cohesion is underrated and a very difficult to pinpoint kind of quality in teams. I think those guys add a lot to the Leafs cohesion."

It certainly is intriguing to consider the possibility of adding the two former Maple Leafs back into the fold. The tricky part will be maneuvering around the salary cap.

Schenn is in the second season of a three-year, $8,250,000 deal, while O'Reilly is in just the second season of a four-year, $18,000,000 contract. Toronto is currently projected to be $2.78 million over the salary cap limit, so Brad Treliving has his work cut out for him.

Luke Schenn and the Nashville Predators have had a disappointing 2024-25 season

Nobody could have anticipated how poorly the 2024-25 campaign could be going for Luke Schenn and the Nashville Predators. After making tons of offseason headlines for signing Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei, everything has gone wrong.

The Preds own a 17-22-7 record, which puts them in seventh place in the Central division and 10 points out of a wildcard spot. As of today, Nashville has just a 5.3% chance of making the postseason, according to moneypuck.com. This is even after winning four consecutive games last week.

Schenn and the Predators will take on the San Jose Sharks for the second of a home-and-home series on Thursday. The puck drops at 10:30 p.m. EST at SAP Center.