Toronto Maple Leafs: One Week From Trade Deadline

The Toronto Maple Leafs have won four in a row, and seven of eight games.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have points in eight straight games dating back to their March 19th loss to the Calgary Flames.

The Leafs finally scored a power-play goal last night vs the Flames (after allowing a shorty first) and it’s nice and all that they broke their 0-30 odd streak, but what it’s actually really impressive that they’ve put together such a points streak despite not scoring any power-play  goals.

Then again, this is a really impressive team.  You can’t say enough about what Jack Campbell (and even Michael Hutchinson) has done this season. Nine wins in a row is impressive, but kind of flukey. The real impressive thing is how he’s gone in and out of the lineup, battled injury, and yet still played well in every single game he’s played.

Toronto Maple Leafs Trade Deadline

The win streak is nice, Campbell’s play is better, but the real intrigue comes from the trade deadline which is one week from today.

The Leafs clearly no longer need a goalie, because Jack Campbell is their goalie.  However, they may want to swing a small deal for another back up.

On the blue-line, things are also going very well. Rielly is a Norris candidate, and Brodie, Holl and Muzzin help make up one of the best top-fours in the NHL.  There is always room for another elite defender, and it would be insane/amazing if the Mattias Ekholm rumours actually came true.

I was fully against the Zach Bogosian signing, but I’ve since come around on him despite the so-so stats. I think he adds an element otherwise missing from the defense, but if the Leafs could add a younger, faster, version of him and upgrade their blue-line, that would be ideal.

I’d like to see the Leafs add Ekholm, Josh Manson or David Savard, but even all they do is add an insurance player, that’s fine too. The blue-line is good as is, and they’ve still got Rasmus Sandin, who I really think should be in the NHL at this point.

Upfront, the Leafs don’t have any real clear needs, but again, it can’t hurt to get better. Adding Taylor Hall is the dream, but even just Mikael Granlund would allow Hyman to anchor a third line and make this team way harder to play against.  If you can move Simmonds to the fourth line and sub Hyman in there with Engvall and Mikheyev,  you’ve got maybe the best third line in the NHL.

Speaking of Engvall, did you see him move through two guys and cut to the middle of the ice and drive the net last night?  If he shot instead of passed it might have been one of the nicest goals of the season.

The trade deadline is one week away, and it’s going to be fun to see what the Toronto Maple Leafs do.