The Toronto Maple Leafs have reached the stage where they can no longer keep worrying about the future. In previous years it made sense to try and hold on to prospects and draft picks, but this core needs to win and win now.
Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas must do everything possible to acquire the necessary piece(s) at this year’s NHL trade deadline.
There is no more time for being overly cautious.
Dubas needs to do whatever it takes to make this team the hardest to play against for the playoffs. For Toronto to go deep into the playoffs, they need to have a team capable of beating the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins.
Toronto Maple Leafs Need to Be Aggressive
The Toronto Maple Leafs, as currently constructed, have proven that they can win a game against the Bruins or Lightning. The problem is, can they win four games and win a series? Toronto has been unable to win a playoff series for so long that it is downright depressing. Dubas has a core that is ready to win and wants to win. He needs to forget about holding onto his 2023 or 2024 first-round picks and use them to upgrade this team.
Some members of the media have suggested that prospect Matthew Knies is untouchable. Watching him play, you will understand why that might be. However, if Knies is untouchable then Dubas better make every other prospect available.
It made sense to focus on the future while Toronto was drafting William Nylander, Mitch Marner, and Auston Matthews. Now that these players are in their prime, Toronto needs to focus on right now, not the future.
Start doing whatever it takes to win playoff rounds and hopefully win a championship. Building a winning culture in Toronto will help the future take care of itself.
Players around the NHL will take notice and want to play here if they see a winning team. Winning will also help keep our core players here in Toronto. They won’t want to leave if the team is winning or on the cusp of winning it all.
When the time comes that the Toronto Maple Leafs need to rebuild, that is when management can start worrying about holding on to prospects and draft picks. There focus at this moment needs to be on one thing, and one thing only, winning now. Will Dubas do whatever it takes to win this season? With the NHL trade deadline on March 3rd, we’ll soon find out.