From Brossoit to DeBrusk to Tanev, Why Are All Leafs Rumours So Bad this Summer?

The Toronto Maple Leafs have done nothing to improve since being eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs in early May.

The Toronto Maple Leafs fired Sheldon Keefe, hired Craig Berube, and their fans spent the last two months scapegoating Mitch Marner, but so far the team hasn't done anything to improve.

There are a lot of rumours, but so far, nothing has happened.

The strange thing is that usually Trade Rumours are Wish Fulfillment, but this summer has been weird because so far, all the Leafs rumours are things the team shouldn't do.

In 2024 a Toronto Maple Leafs Trade Rumour seems less like wishful thinking and more like warnings against making dumb decisions.

From Brossoit to DeBrusk to Tanev, Why Are All Leafs Rumours So Bad this Summer?

Mitch Marner: These rumours are the very definition of silly.

I proposed a fair trade that the Leafs would actually do (Marner to Anaheim for Leo Carlson and Pavel Mintyukov) but was told that was ridiculous. The actual rumour involves the Leafs getting a 28 year old injury prone Morgan Rielly clone who wouldn't be half the player he is once he's no longer sheltered by playing behind Alex Pietrangelo.

If the Leafs traded Marner for Theodore it would be like trading Courtnall for Kordic all over again.

Chris Tanev: He keeps getting listed as the Leafs "top priority" but there is no way the Leafs are this dumb. They really want to give a four year deal to a 34 year old injury prone defensive defenseman? Be my guest, but you'll regret it instantly.

Laurent Brossoit: The Leafs have spent nearly a decade trying to win without a top goalie. Perhaps, (and shouldn't this be obvious?) they should get one?

How could a team embarrassed from years of failure turn to a 32 year old backup and pin their hopes to an injury prone prospect who has played a total of 39 career games?

Max Domi: A one-dimensional winger who isn't good enough for the top-six and can't defend well enough for the bottom-six? According to rumours, overpaying this talented but frustrating player is one of the Leafs top priorities. It defies belief that people don't realize that overpaying replaceable mid-level wingers is the fastest way to waste your salary cap money.

Tyler Bertuzzi: Bertuzzi and Knies in their primes playing the left side for half of every game is something that would be amazing, but the Leafs have be careful not to overpay here. The rumours make out like the Leafs are desperate to overpay these guys, and that is the problem. On cheap enough deals both should be welcomed back, but that isn't what the rumours tell us is likely to happen.

Mario Ferraro: Someone suggested the Leafs would pay a first + for this terrible, overpaid player who they don't need and who wouldn't improve their team. Ferraro has terrible stats and isn't good. Of course he's rumoured to be coming to the Leafs for a massive overpay.

Jake Guentzel: I don't know if this was a rumour so much as cry for help. The Leafs supposedly want to trade Marner, then use the savings on.....another winger? A more injury prone, older, worse-at-defense winger who scores less and costs only slightly less? Great plan!

Jake DeBrusk: I feel a little bit like I'm being trolled here. The Leafs and their fans' obsession with role playing grinders is unhealthy. There is no reason not to sign Jake DeBrusk - if every other team passes on him and he's willing to sign a cheap deal. This is not a guy you overpay for in free-agency. I hope.

The bottom line is that so far, all Leafs rumours this summer seem more like warnings than anything else. The fun stuff - the Leafs getting Jusse Saros, maybe signing Nikita Zadorov - hasn't been rumored. My only hope is that the Leafs are still a leak-proof organization and that these rumours are merely floated out there because they seem realistic.