This might be the most chaotic week of the offseason yet — and we have a lot to sort through.

We start with the coaching search (1:30), which continues to be one of the strangest processes we've ever tried to follow. Pavelski and Roy are the only confirmed names, everything else is speculation, and we get into our theory on why the Leafs went from Carle to Laviolette to Pavelski — and why we think Pavelski might actually be the right long-term fit for where this team is at.

From there, we dig into the Morgan Rielly situation (22:00). We break down what a realistic trade could look like, including a Rielly-for-Jake DeBrusk scenario with Vancouver, why San Jose continues to be the most talked-about destination, and whether we'd be surprised if he's still a Leaf come September.

We also take on two big swing trade targets — Dylan Larkin (36:40) and Vincent Trocheck (45:10) — and explain why one fits this team perfectly and the other might not be the right fit at all, despite all the smoke.

Then there's Jordan's Sean Durzi trade rumour (55:27). We share the DM that got our attention, dig into why Utah might actually be ready to move on from him, what he'd bring to the Leafs, and what a realistic trade framework could look like.

We close things out the only way we know how — by revisiting the Matthew Knies trade that was submitted at 3:01 PM, and just how perfectly it sums up the entire Brad Treliving era (1:10:25).

Let's get into it.

Intro/Outro music by Chad Walt

Spotify: (https://open.spotify.com/artist/5gaejVfjk7KebwksgFtw13)

Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/officialchadwalt/)

Like, share, and subscribe for more episodes of The Leafs Lab Podcast. You can find us on all major platforms—just search The Leafs Lab Podcast.

Follow us on Twitter @nylanderthews (https://x.com/nylanderthews) and @TheLeafZone44 (https://x.com/TheLeafZone44). Feel free to reach out with any questions, topics, or ideas you’d like us to cover.

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A slightly different one this week.

On this week's episode of The Leafs Lab Podcast, I work through over 40 listener-submitted trade proposals, reacting to each one, grading them on realism and how much I like the player, and giving my honest take on whether the Leafs should actually be making these moves.

We cover everything — Morgan Rielly destinations, the Elias Pettersson swap, Mason McTavish to Toronto, Olen Zellweger, Michael Kesselring, Dougie Hamilton, Zach Werenski, Barrett Hayton, and a whole lot more. Some of these are genuinely great ideas. Some are not. All of them are worth the conversation.

Michael is back next week, and we'll get into some deeper offseason discussions — trade targets, coaching updates, and everything in between.

Apologies in advance for a somewhat clunkier solo episode while Michael is still away. That said, the trade proposals you all sent in were genuinely outstanding, and this was too much fun not to do.

Thanks to everyone who sent in a proposal. This is exactly what we want more of. Have a great week.

Intro/Outro music by Chad Walt

Spotify: (https://open.spotify.com/artist/5gaejVfjk7KebwksgFtw13)

Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/officialchadwalt/)

Like, share, and subscribe for more episodes of The Leafs Lab Podcast. You can find us on all major platforms—just search The Leafs Lab Podcast.

Follow us on Twitter @nylanderthews (https://x.com/nylanderthews) and @TheLeafZone44 (https://x.com/TheLeafZone44). Feel free to reach out with any questions, topics, or ideas you’d like us to cover.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week is a little different as Michael (LeafZone44) is away on vacation, so Jordan (Willyston Riellander) takes the opportunity to answer listener questions in the first Leafs Lab AMA episode.

Before getting into the mailbag, we break down the Leafs' hiring of Judd Brackett and why bringing one of hockey's most respected talent evaluators to Toronto could be one of the most important moves of the offseason.

Topics covered include:

• Judd Brackett's hiring and what it means for the future of the organization

• The Leafs coaching search

• Jeff Halpern as a potential coaching candidate

• Which Marlies have the best chance of making the roster next season

• How Toronto should remodel its defence corps

• The search for a second-line centre

• Offseason priorities and roster construction

• Buy-low trade and free-agent targets

• Mats Sundin, Ivar Stenberg, and the 2026 NHL Draft

• Power-play deployment with Gavin McKenna

• Morgan Rielly's future

• Bowen Byram and other realistic trade targets

• Players Jordan was most right and most wrong about

Also, apologies in advance for the slightly clunkier and shorter episode. Solo podcasts are a different challenge, but hopefully this gives everyone something to listen to while we wait for Michael's return.

Keep an eye out for the Trade Proposals Teaser this week!

As always, thank you for listening, supporting the show, and sending in questions. Let us know what you thought of the AMA format and whether you'd like to see more episodes like this in the future.

Intro/Outro music by Chad Walt

Spotify: (https://open.spotify.com/artist/5gaejVfjk7KebwksgFtw13)

Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/officialchadwalt/)

Like, share, and subscribe for more episodes of The Leafs Lab Podcast. You can find us on all major platforms—just search The Leafs Lab Podcast.

Follow us on Twitter @nylanderthews (https://x.com/nylanderthews) and @TheLeafZone44 (https://x.com/TheLeafZone44). Feel free to reach out with any questions, topics, or ideas you’d like us to cover.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.