Toronto Maple Leafs Trade Talk: Is Luke Schenn Untouchable?

According to TSN's Darren Dreger, as seen on Insider Trading, there are no untouchables on the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Dreger addressed the rumour that had Luke Schenn going to the Philadelphia Flyers for James Van Riemsdyk by saying that while Schenn had not been shopped at any point in time and that no such deal is in place, nobody on the Leafs, including Schenn, was untouchable.

I'm no expert, but I'm sure what Dreger meant to say was that no Leaf was untouchable except perhaps Phil Kessel, Dion Phaneuf, Joffrey Lupul and James Reimer.

You could make an argument for Jonas Gustavsson, Jake Gardiner and a few of the Leafs' prospects (e.g. Tyler Biggs, Stuart Percy) as well.

So where does Luke Schenn fit in?

Is he untouchable, or could he be had for the right price?

Schenn was picked fifth overall by the Leafs in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. He was their highest pick in 19 years, dating back to 1989 when the Leafs picked Scott Thornton (Joe's cousin) third overall.

In the years leading up to Schenn's draft year, the Leafs made questionable decisions in terms of drafting and trades. Some of the names that come to mind include: Tuukka Rask, Justin Pogge, Jiri Tlusty, Brad Boyes and Vesa Toskala.

Brian Burke didn't draft Schenn, but he has stood by him the entire time, never wavering from the belief that Schenn is an integral part of the Leafs' present and future.

When Burke became the General Manager of the Leafs, the team finally started to restock its cupboard with picks and prospects.

Kessel trade notwithstanding (let's not get into that), the Leafs have done a good job at holding onto their picks in the three years that Burke has been in Toronto.

The drafting of Luke Schenn, not to mention Nazem Kadri, represented a major turning point for the struggling franchise. Here was a tough and pugnacious shutdown defenseman you could build a franchise around.

Few people around these parts (or anywhere, for that matter) would still consider Schenn a franchise defenseman, but management would still have you believe him to be a key building block. Before the rumourmongers get too excited with all this talk of trading Schenn, I will point out that the ink on his five-year, $18 million contract is still wet.

Schenn wants to be in Toronto and the organization clearly wants him to stay.

Even if the potential return was one of the big names (they who shall not be named), the Leafs would have to think long and hard before accepting such a deal.

In fact, Leaf fans should think long and hard about how they feel about Schenn.

He has not been living up to his contract so far, but his upside is huge.

Some will claim he is a defensive liability, but at the time of writing, he is a plus-seven through 41 games, which is second on the team behind only Joffrey Lupul, who is a plus-eight.

He brings physicality and size, two qualities which are sorely lacking on the team, both up front and on the blue line.

You don't find a guy like him every year in the draft, much less in free agency.

One could make the same argument for any one of the star players mentioned in recent trade rumours, but that doesn't change the fact that such players should not be tossed around in rumours without careful consideration.

It's undeniable that Schenn's play of late has been somewhat lacking, but Leaf fans are notorious for throwing players under the bus for the slightest of slip-ups.

On the flip side, Leaf fans are also quick to overvalue their players, particularly the ones who haven't played many games, if any, for the Leafs yet.

Schenn is undoubtedly worth a lot on the trade market and could, whether on his own or as part of a package, fetch a hefty return.

The question is, should the Leafs even bother listening to trade proposals involving Schenn?