The Toronto Maple Leafs have lost four of five games and are in currently on the worst run of their otherwise glorious season.
The good news: two of those games went to overtime, and two of those games featured sweet, multi-goal comebacks, and another one of them was probably the best game they played all season.
It might seem like a bad streak, but let’s keep a little perspective: they are still 6-2-2 in their last ten, and that is very respectable. It’s still a 100 point pace.
And the fact is, their power-play is 1 for 22 lately, and that’s just bad luck.
No Worries
Given the personnel, the Toronto Male Leafs power-play is 100% guaranteed to recover completely and balance out.
There is nothing to worry about. I mean, if the Leafs had their power-play operating at it’s normal success rate, they probably are on a five game winning streak right now. Given it’s a completely random thing, I don’t think they should panic. Or even care.
And every team loses, and every team goes on such stretches. It might not seem like it now, but this will happen to Tampa too. Such is the predictability of the 82 games schedule.
That said, it’s time to shake things up with a trade. Not because of a dumb and inevitable losing streak, but because the Leafs can get better, so they might as well do it now rather than later.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are obviously going to be making a move (they have the means, motive and opportunity) so they might as well do it now when they need a little injection of life into their lineup.
Trade Time
Alex Pietrangelo was the obvious choice to acquire, but he is injured. He’s out probably six weeks, so the Leafs should look at other options.
Colton Parayko would be a dream acquisition. Keith Yandle would be an interesting option. His cap hit is ridiculous and his contract is long. He is 32. He also has a no-trade clause, and he’s left handed.
However, he is also close to a point point-per-game, the Panthers would retain the max salary and he wouldn’t cost very much, given the contract. The Panthers might just want out of the next four years of the deal. You could give them Ron Hainsey to offset the cap hit and then hope you can make someone else take the contract later on. It’s an out-of-the box type thing, but Yandle is an elite puck mover and the more of those you have the better, given how the Toronto Maple Leafs play.
If you consider the cost of acquiring Colton Parayko – Kapanen, Liljegren and a first might not be enough – then a player like Yandle is an interesting fall back.
Other options include players from the following teams: Detroit, Ottawa, Florida, New Jersey, Carolina, Philly, St.Louis, Chicago, Vancouver, LA, and Arizona.
A quick scan of their rosters and and the assumption they all want to rebuild around their Colton Parayko comparables, says Keith Yandle might now be that bad of an idea.
Either way, for the Toronto Maple Leafs, a trade is needed soon.