Luke Schenn may have returned to the Toronto Maple Leafs at the 2023 trade deadline, but he may be on the lookout for a new home when the National Hockey League’s annual free agency period opens on July 1.
Schenn and the Maple Leafs reportedly have yet to reach much common ground in contract negotiations as the prospect of hitting the open market looms for the 33-year-old defenseman.
Vancouver hockey insider Rick Dhaliwal, who became very familiar with Schenn during his two tenures with the Vancouver Canucks, provided a brief update on Schenn’s status during Friday’s episode of Donnie & Dhali – The Team on CHEK TV.
“Luke Schenn and the Maple Leafs are not close, as I was told, to a contract,” Dhaliwal told co-host Don Taylor. “Keep an eye on him if he hits free agency. Let’s see if it happens.”
Whether Schenn returns to Vancouver for a third tour of duty with the Canucks remains to be seen, although it’s certainly within the realm of possibility that he could command a seven-figure salary on his next deal. He earned less than $1 million per year on his last four contracts, including the two-year, $850,000 AAV deal he signed with the Canucks in 2021.
The Maple Leafs originally selected Schenn with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2008 NHL Draft. The six-foot-two defenseman, who shoots right, immediately made the jump into the NHL from the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets after being drafted and established himself as a fan favorite in Toronto before being traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in 2012.
After four seasons in Philadelphia, Schenn spent time with the Los Angeles Kings, Arizona Coyotes, Anaheim Ducks, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Canucks before being traded back to Toronto in February. He won two Stanley Cups during his tenure with the Lightning.
Through 933 games with those seven teams over 15 NHL seasons, Schenn has collected 42 goals and 191 points. He’s added three goals and seven points in 42 Stanley Cup Playoff contests.