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Should the Toronto maple Leafs Stand Pat at the Trade Deadline?

By Lucas Mascherin

Sep 18, 2018; Lucan, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas on his laptop before the start of their game against the Ottawa Senators at Lucan Community Memorial Centre. The Maple Leafs beat the Senators 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 18, 2018; Lucan, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas on his laptop before the start of their game against the Ottawa Senators at Lucan Community Memorial Centre. The Maple Leafs beat the Senators 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mikael Granlund, Nashville Predators
Mikael Granlund, Nashville Predators (Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports) /

Making a Trade

By making a trade, Toronto would bring in a player hoping that he would fit in and perform. They would also have to give something up. That may be a roster player, a prospect, or draft picks.

If the team is playing great, and Dubas believes they will continue playing like that, why make a change to the roster? That tells me that either he doesn’t think the Leafs will continue their success, or he plans on grabbing a “no-brainer” player.

Grabbing a player that is playing well and you can’t say no to will cost quite a penny. Who on the trade market won’t compromise the team today or in the future? Someone that does not have a high salary cap because we all know Toronto’s tight cap situation.

If Dubas somehow grabs a forward that can contribute to the team long-term, making a trade wouldn’t be such a bad idea. The issue is most forwards that are available would be rentals with contracts about to expire.

I’m not a fan of trading away the future when things are going great unless there is a way to keep that player. The team is playing very well right now, so why change it up?

The majority of the team will return next season. The Leafs have many young defensemen and forwards in their system ready to be called up from the Marlies. Yes, adding a rental piece can help the team win it all this season. The problem is whoever the team goes out to grab will have to be THAT much better than the player replaced.

On top of needing an impactful upgrade, the Leafs only have only $50 K in cap space. That means the contract they take on must be lower than the one they trade away.

Factoring in the cap situation mans Toronto may have to give up a little more so the other team retains some salary. That can be a late-round draft pick. While they aren’t worth much, it is one extra pick than needed.

Leafs Top Ten Prospects. dark. Next

The Toronto Maple Leafs are playing great, and they are Stanley Cup contenders. Let the team play. If a significant upgrade is not available, the Leafs should not make a trade.

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