Toronto Maple Leafs: Slow Trade Deadline Was Perfectly Fine
The NHL trade deadline. Every year, eager Toronto Maple Leafs fans wait for this day with high anticipation.
Every year it comes, there are a lot of busy workings, and then 3 p.m. hits the clock. Before you know it, the trade deadline has come and gone and there haven’t been any major trades by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Barely anything significant at all.
This has been happening for years in Toronto. Fans get worked up, speculate trades and moves that could make the Leafs better, and then are dumbfounded when nothing happens.
This has been a disappointing thing for Leafs fans in the recent past, as they were led to believe that Brian Burke’s management group would build a team that can contend for the cup. They were led to believe that this success would be achieved fairly quickly, through such major moves.
But the difference this season with Lou Lamoriello and co. is that the Leafs are rebuilding, and they’re rebuilding correctly. There are many people who feel as if the Leafs trade deadline this season was unsuccessful, but it really wasn’t. You shouldn’t be too upset that major moves haven’t been made for a few reasons.
Playoff Hype Causes Tunnel Vision
Toronto Maple Leafs
I’ve seen it all around the web from Leafs fans. With the Leafs battling for a playoff spot, they feel like the rebuild is almost done–let’s get on with the playoffs right? Wrong. The Leafs are still rebuilding. Yes we have future stars in Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander, but they’re rookies with ample time to grow.
Let’s be straight forward here. It’s great that the Leafs are about to make the playoffs this year. The city is at its best when the Leafs are in the playoffs. It’s also a great experience for the young guys to get a solid playoff run out of this year, even if the Leafs don’t win the cup. But at the same time, Leafs fans have to come back down to Earth for a bit.
Playoffs are a Bonus
The reality of it is that the Leafs most likely won’t have a deep cup run, and that’s okay. Nobody really expected them to do this well this season, and they’ve outperformed greatly. But let’s not lose sight of the initial plans for this year. This season was supposed to be used to develop the young kids well. Playoffs are a bonus to this fact.
The young guys are developing perfectly, and a playoff run would only amplify their development. But let’s stay on course here and not get ahead of ourselves with the playoffs. If fans really wanted big moves to truly strengthen our chances in the playoffs, the team would have had to trade assets like draft picks and prospects, which are valuable to a rebuilding team.
Like I said, playoffs are a bonus. The Leafs don’t need to contend right now necessarily. It would be nice, but it would be better in a few years when those draft picks and prospects join the team to form a core that could be among the league’s best for years to come. Then, we will truly have deep cup runs that will be sustainable for a long time.
The Key to a Rebuild
Like I mentioned above, the key to a rebuild is keeping and building around the valuable assets of picks and prospects. Just look at the 2009 Pittsburgh Penguins or the 2010 Chicago Blackhawks. Majority of those teams’ players were drafted or developed directly by the team.
The Leafs have openly committed to doing just this. And that’s why the trade deadline wasn’t that bad. The Leafs held on to those valuable assets and didn’t jeopardize their future. They didn’t necessarily try to go all out this year, because they feel as if their prospects will make them dominant in the future.
Related Story: Roundtable: Grading The Leafs Deadline
The Leafs Still have to Build their Assets
Look at teams like the Washington Capitals or the Minnesota Wild, who both made big moves to bolster their cup run by adding Kevin Shattenkirk and Martin Hanzal respectively. In both of their deals, they had to give up a lot. Washington gave up a first rounder and a conditional second or third rounder in addition to a young prospect just to acquire Shattenkirk. The Wild traded a first, a second, and a fourth rounder plus a prospect for Hanzal.
The difference between these two teams and Toronto however, is that they’re built already to go all in. They are both at the top of their conferences and vying to win the Stanley Cup this year. If they don’t do it this year, they may start to decline going forward. Toronto on the other hand will only begin to trend upwards.
The Leafs could have gone out looking for a top pairing or top four defenceman to really solidify their blueline, but at what cost? A deal like that would have made the Leafs cough up a first or second round pick, plus a prospect. At this point of the rebuild, that really isn’t necessary, unlike Washington or Minnesota.
The Leafs should try to develop their own key components through the draft for the future. If they can’t develop players to fill missing holes in the future, then they should perhaps think of making some trades. But as of right now, it’s far too early to evaluate who should or should not be moved. Let it pan out with time.
So did the Leafs really have to address the issues apparent on the ice right now? Or could it wait for some time as things play out more in the rebuild? I admit it would be nice to address those issues while we can, but ultimately it’s not needed right away. Patience is key.
Let me know what you think the Leafs should have or shouldn’t have done at this season’s deadline in the comments below. Also feel free to tweet suggestions to my Twitter: @Matt_Rodrigo_