Toronto Maple Leafs Might Shock Fans at the NHL Trade Deadline

With the trade window quickly coming to a close, The Toronto Maple Leafs need to solidify their strategy. What they do might shock the world.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are currently in a precarious position.

They sit just outside a playoff position just under two weeks away from the NHL Trade Deadline. General Manager Kyle Dubas needs to decide what direction he wishes to take the team before that deadline passes.

Prior to the start of the season, the mere notion of the Maple Leafs missing the postseason would have been inconceivable. On paper, this is one of the most talented groups of players in the league. Now, It’s possible that Dubas and the Leafs do the unthinkable and become sellers.

Toronto Maple Leafs at the Trade Deadline

Between now and the close of the trading window at 3 p.m. ET on Monday, Feb. 24, the Leafs play nine games. That means that they have the possibility of earning 18 points. Should they run the table, it makes decision making easy. The Leafs would then look to improve the roster and prepare for a postseason run.

If the next stretch of games doesn’t go the Leafs way they will be forced to make a more difficult decision. Dubas and President Brendan Shanahan will need to consider steering the ship in a different direction. They have a number of expiring contracts and they may seek to find a return on some.

This would be a complete 180-degree turn for a club who just acquired goaltender Jack Campbell and forward Kyle Clifford from the Los Angeles Kings in an effort to improve the roster, not tear it down. Though the odds of each player being traded have been established, as we’ve seen, things can change in a hurry. If the Maple Leafs fall too far out of the playoff picture, they may decide to take aim on restocking for the future.

Currently, the team is in discussion with Jake Muzzin’s camp to try and get his contract extended. On Hockey Night in Canada’s Headlines, Chris Johnson said “[Muzzin] has to weigh [his love of playing in Toronto] against the potential of what he could get in the open market. We’ll see what develops from here, but they are at least exploring to see if there’s a fit there beyond this season.”

Ideally, the team and Muzzin are able to come to terms on a new deal, but if those talks break down, the Leafs need to listen to offers. Moving Muzzin should fetch the Buds a large return. The same is true for the offensive defenseman, Tyson Barrie. If Toronto doesn’t make the playoffs or move them before the deadline, both men could walk away from the team for nothing. That’s a nightmare scenario for the Leafs.

Cody Ceci is a player that the Toronto Maple Leafs should have traded already. He too has an expiring contract, though a far less appealing one. He is earning $4.5 million without providing anywhere near the level of play that that figure should buy. While Toronto might still try and flip Ceci, they shouldn’t expect much back in return.

Hopefully, the Leafs find their game very quickly and manage to go on a run. It’s too soon to give up the dream of this group not only qualifying for the playoffs, but going beyond the first round.