Maple Leafs scratch Bobby McMann, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Scott Laughton vs. Devils as trade deadline looms

The report from the team comes hours after head coach Craig Berube told reporters at morning skate that there would be no changes to the lineup for the Maple Leafs’ upcoming game in New Jersey. Perhaps they knew all along and wanted to keep their lineup decisions close to them, or maybe there were some developments on the trade front that inspired Brad Treliving to make a last-minute request to preserve the health of three potential trade candidates.

With the Maple Leafs having lost each of their last four games to exit the Olympic break, their trade deadline direction couldn’t have been pointed in a clearer direction. The Maple Leafs have struggled to score, struggled to defend, and their worst stretch of hockey since the 6-game losing streak in January (which was only separated by a three-game winning streak going into the break) has shown too many flaws in the roster and the system to justify going on a late-season run.

Bobby McMann’s name has been appearing in trade talks for a couple of months, due to his proven secondary scoring ability and low cap hit on an expiring deal. Laughton is in a similar boat, with his current cap hit sitting at $1.5 million after the Maple Leafs retained 50% of his deal when they acquired him this time last year. Ekman-Larsson has emerged as the team’s top point-getter on the back end this season, and his step into the fountain of youth combined with two years and change remaining on what’s proven to be a very team-friendly deal has sent his value skyward.

The Maple Leafs have a back-to-back with the Devils on Wednesday and New York Rangers on Thursday night before Friday’s trade deadline.