If the Toronto Maple Leafs want to add a new player to their lineup before Christmas, they have exactly nine hours (this was published at 3PM).
The Maple Leafs have until midnight tonight (December 18th) to make a move, because after that the NHL Holiday Roster Freeze comes into effect.
The Roster Freeze lasts is an annual NHL tradition that prevents players from having to worry about being moved to a new city during the holidays.
This year, it will last until December 27th, so unless a big move goes down between now and then, the NHL is going to be pretty quited for the next nine days.
Maple Leafs and the NHL Roster Freeze
Another interesting rule about the NHL roster freeze is that teams also are prevented from sending any non-emergency players to the AHL during this time either. I believe they could still send down Dennis Hildeby if there was a Christmas Miracle involving injured team MVP Anthony Stolarz, because he was recalled due to an injury, but they can't demote anyone else during this time.
While its a well meaning rule, the fact that the Maple Leafs AHL team is also in Toronto makes it nonsensical, but I guess making an exception is more trouble that it would be worth.
In other news, the Leafs will dress a nearly healthy lineup for tonight's game against the Dallas Stars. Unfortunately, that also means they will be dressing Ryan Reaves.
The Leafs desperately need a couple of roster upgrades, but at this point it appears safe to say that they won't be getting any of them for Christmas.
The Leafs should, in my humble opinion at least, trade for Buffalo Sabres quasi-star and 23 year-old potential superstar Dylan Cozens. I beieve this gives them the best chance to land a player with star potential who can play on the third line now, but seemlessly transition to John Tavares' role as time goes on.
Cozens will be expensive, but worth it. For more on this idea, check it out here.
As for defenseman, the Leafs have one good pairing that combines to be over 65 year old, and both Morgan Rielly and Oliver Ekman-Larsson are struggling to the point where OEL was on the 3rd pairing in yesterday's practice.
The Leafs need a top-four defenseman and a 3C, but because of the NHL's charitable holiday rules, they likely will have to wait until at least December 28th to get either.