Brandon Saad Placed on Waivers: A Fit for the Leafs?

The St. Louis Blues have announced that veteran forward Brandon Saad will be placed on unconditional waivers on Thursday for the purpose of a mutual contract termination.

Saad is walking away from over $5 million in salary, opting to become a free agent in search of a fresh start and new opportunities in the NHL. While the decision is a financial sacrifice, it allows him to immediately pursue a new team—something both Saad and the Blues felt was in his best interest.

With one year remaining on his contract at a $4.5 million cap hit, the financial commitment for interested teams was a significant hurdle. Now, as an unrestricted free agent, Saad will have the flexibility to sign a short-term deal, potentially at a league-minimum salary.

A Proven Veteran with Championship Pedigree

At 32 years old, Brandon Saad has played in 906 NHL games, recording 7 career 20-goal seasons and winning two Stanley Cups with the Chicago Blackhawks. Despite his impressive resume, this season has been a struggle—Saad has posted just 7 goals and 16 points, along with a -14 rating in St. Louis.

While his production has dipped, he still brings speed, experience, and two-way ability, qualities that could be valuable to a playoff-bound team looking for depth scoring.

Click here to see Brandon Saad Hat-Trick from January 3rd 2025 against Ottawa Senators

Brandon Saad’s hat trick against Ottawa stands as the final game he scored in for the Blues.
Curious to see where he ends up and if he can rebound pic.twitter.com/0ul8NddYXj

— Rink Rat Report (@RinkRatReport) January 29, 2025

A Toronto Connection?

The Toronto Maple Leafs could be an intriguing landing spot for Saad.

• Head coach Craig Berube is familiar with Saad from their time together in St. Louis, which could give Toronto an inside track if they’re interested.
• The Leafs need help in their top-six, particularly at left wing, where injuries and inconsistency have left openings.
• A league-minimum deal would fit within the Leafs’ tight salary cap situation, making Saad a low-risk, high-reward option.

Would Brandon Saad be interested in joining a playoff contender like Toronto to boost his value for next season? Would the Leafs take a flyer on a proven veteran with championship experience?

Time will tell—but this is a storyline worth watching as Saad enters free agency.

Go Leafs Go!