The Toronto Maple Leafs are going to be making some big trades.
The question is not if the Toronto Maple Leafs make moves, it is when they will make them.
The New York Islanders made a risk-free acquisition of Bo Horvat, and acted early enough that it could make a big difference. Of course all the good they did was ruined by the enormously stupid contract they signed him to, but at least for the rest of this year it was a good move.
Like the Islanders, the Leafs should act early.
Toronto Maple Leafs Should Trade Now
There is some value in waiting for the trade deadline – players may get injured, prices may come down, other teams may decide to sell.
Those things must be weighed against the advantages:
Longer time to gel, better team will win more games and finish higher, beat out other suiters.
In my opinion, the Toronto Maple Leafs shouldn’t worry about the disadvantages of acting early. Injuries happen, you can’t predict or account for the. Prices are something you can’t worry about – you can’t get too cute here, there’s a lot on the line. Best to just shut up and pay for what you need, and not worry if it ends up being an overpayment.
Finally, the Leafs should have only two targets at this point: Chychrun, and Meier. Who cares what else is potentially out there when you have the two best deadline acquisitions since Marian Hossa available.
Whatever other concerns, acting before other teams do should be the Toronto Maple Leafs priority. Not only can the Leafs not afford to miss out on available superstars, but they can’t afford for them to go to their competitors.
Boston getting Chychrun would be like them winning a four point game against the Leafs – it’s not just what they get, it’s what you lose.
Besides that, the Leafs need to at least try to catch Boston, and they need to stay ahead of Tampa. Getting five or ten extra games with their elite additions can make this a lot more probable.
The fact is, those teams may want to wait, but the Leafs should do whatever is in their power to get a move done sooner than later.
In the past, they added Jake Muzzin and Mark Giordano at the trade deadline, but about a month earlier. The Leafs, if they follow the same script, should be making their big move any time now. Act early, get who you want, beat out the Bruins. Easy!