Report: Maple Leafs’ trade deadline plans remain unchanged after three-game win streak
“From the Brad Treliving side of things, the Leafs front office have started garnering, engaging what their players are worth on the market,” he said during Wednesday’s edition of Early Insider Trading. “I don’t expect a three-game winning streak – and even perhaps if it extends beyond the break, where the Leafs win a couple games outta the break – don’t believe that’s going to alter what this front office wants to do.”
That means there will be plenty of players that Treliving could dangle as he tries to retool the Leafs roster, beyond just McMann.
“ They’re looking at the second layer of players on the roster. You’ve heard the names pending UFAs, like a Bobby McMann who played well in Edmonton, has been tied to rumours with the Edmonton Oilers potentially having interest there,” Johnston continued. “Scott Laughton’s a UFA, Simon Benoit, perhaps a Brandon Carlo or Oliver Ekman-Larsson. All these names, I think the Leafs are gonna get a good sense over the break in terms of what the value is for them on the market and monitor those decisions. As we get closer to March 6th, I do still think you’re gonna see the Leafs sell to some degree.”
While the Leafs players still maintain a lot of belief in their abilities to salvage the season, it is clear that Treliving and upper management are not going to be swayed by the wins barring an unexpected change of heart. There may not have been any deals done by the team before the Olympic roster freeze, but there will certainly be talks during the break before finalizing on the deals once the freeze is lifted on February 22nd.
It’s not a question of whether or not the Leafs will be sellers at the deadline, but a question of who will be the first player shipped to the highest bidder and when that happens.