Brad Treliving's First Deadline as Toronto Maple Leafs GM Was a Flop

Joel Edmundson

Nearly a week after acquiring Lyubushkin, the Leafs acquired Edmundson from the Washington Capitals for a 2024 third round pick and a 2025 fifth round pick.

Edmundson came with 50% retention putting his new AAV at $875,000 for the remainder of the year. 

It is unclear exactly where he will suit up come playoff time but given the price paid, he will likely be a regular in the lineup.

He was on my list for players the Leafs should stay away from at the deadline, but they did not listen. Optimistically, he is a big body that can help clear the netfront and hopefully stop opposing forwards from advancing and break-up cycles.

Hopefully he is able to thrive in a defensive role with the Leafs but if his performance elsewhere is any indication, this could be bad.

Cade Webber

The Leafs followed up the Edmundson deal by acquiring the rights to 23-year-old Hurricanes’ prospect Cade Webber for a 2026 sixth round pick.

Webber is a 6-6 left shot defenseman and is in his senior year at Boston University of the NCAA. He is a defensive defenseman through and through, having registered only 16 points in nearly 120 career NCAA games so far.

He would have been a free agent come August 15th if left unsigned but now is eligible to join the Leafs’ AHL affiliate the Toronto Marlies on an ATO (or sign his ELC with the club) at the end of the season as they push for a calder cup.

It is clear that the Leafs see value in acquiring Webber and think there is at least some chance that he could be an NHL player one day.

He already has five years of development after his draft year and is a mature prospect that has a much better chance of playing meaningful games for the Leafs before the player picked using that 2026 sixth rounder.

Agree or disagree but there is at least some utility for a team in the Leafs’ situation to use a sixth to buy a fast-tracked prospect.