Toronto Maple Leafs fans and media are in the midst of a speculation feeding frenzy as the NHL trade deadline of March 7 is just a month away. Will the team land Dylan Cozens from the hapless Buffalo Sabres? Wouldn’t it be awesome if they could get Brayden Schenn from St. Louis to shore up the forward depth?
Every year now we hear that the Toronto Maple Leafs need to “go all in” to load up for the playoffs. What does that even mean? Was the 2021 Nick Foligno acquisition (giving up 1st and 4th round picks) going all in? Or the 2023 Ryan O’Reilly deal (another first rounder for a rental)? I don't recall those deals driving much playoff success.
Last year, nobody could say that General Manager Brad Treliving swung for the fences, with the only 2 assets coming Toronto’s way that are still owned by the organization being part-time fourth liner Connor Dewar and Toronto Marlies defensive prospect Cade Webber.
The Leafs gave up a total of SIX draft picks and a minor leaguer (via Puckpedia.com) to net those two (along with 2-month rentals of Joel Edmundson and Ilya Lyubushkin).
How Can The Toronto Maple Leafs Win the Stanley Cup This Year?
I totally get the philosophy that every member of the organization, including the GM, should be doing everything possible to maximize the chances of playoff success. But the Stanley Cup is not won at the trade deadline. It’s earned as part of a years-long process, and is most often awarded to a team that does the best job of managing its assets.
Using the current Toronto Maple Leafs roster as an example, what does this team need in order to win the Cup this year? Basically, two things. The stars have to score enough goals, and the goalies have to be excellent (with a nod to Bill and Ted). That’s it. If Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and Willy “Good Cookies” Nylander produce like they do in the regular season, and the Joseph Woll/Anthony Stolarz duo play as well as they have so far this season, there’s a good chance we get a parade in June.
If those two things happen, it doesn’t matter who the third line centre is, or whether or not Treliving can find an upgrade to the defensive corps. If the big boys don’t score or the goaltending collapses, no combination of deadline trades can possibly make up for that.
So, I beg Mr. Treliving to turn off his cell phone and keep his limited trade capital in the cupboard for the summer time. Would I like to see some of the Toronto Maple Leafs underperformers trimmed from the roster? Of course, but sellers at this time of the year aren’t going to give up anything of value for Ryan Reaves, David Kampf or Phillippe Myers. And rentals of older guys that might have a bit of gas left in the tank usually cost draft picks.
Please, just stand pat for once.