What Treliving does this week could define his time as Leafs GM: Alberga’s Take
No need to sugarcoat it — this season has been a train wreck. And by ushering players out the door, Brad Treliving and company won’t just be making moves, they will be admitting defeat.
Whatever the plan was last summer, it hasn’t worked out. Yes, as Keith Pelley was quick to point out in his email letter to season-ticket holders last week, injuries have played a factor.
Good luck trying to sell that lazy narrative to a fan base as smart as this one, though.
What about the countless outings – the latest being Monday night against Philadelphia – through the first 61 games where the team looked lifeless and disinterested?
For me, plain and simple, the season was lost in the first 25-30 games. Night after night, they coughed up point after point. They stunk. The power play stunk. Everyone stunk. Save for maybe 10-15 games after the holiday break, the team has lacked identity and connectivity all season long.
They made their beds, and now, it’s time to lie in them.
They can put out all the letters and press releases they want, but it’s going to be tough to wiggle out of this mess.
At any rate, it goes without saying that management has their hands full this week trying to save face. In what’s being described as a buyer’s market, the pressure will only increase on Brad Treliving to extract meaningful value from any deal he makes.
Unfortunately, the Leafs don’t have much of substance to trade either. Outside of maybe Oliver Ekman-Larsson — who is likely to stay put — there isn’t much on the roster that would fetch a significant return. And the lingering sting of last year’s two overpayments at the deadline will only add fuel to an already frustrated fan base.
That’s why it’s important to temper expectations. In essence, the Leafs aren’t pulling off a reverse version of Minten and a first for Carlo, so don’t hold your breath.
Having said all that, Brad Treliving needs to do his best Vladimir Guerrero Jr. impression from October and knock this week out of the park. What he does — or fails to do — could go a long way toward defining his tenure as general manager. If he doesn’t come out of this week with at least one first-round pick, there are going to be plenty of angry and frustrated fans.
No pressure, though.
Once the first domino falls, we’ll start to get a clearer sense of what this organization is thinking. It’s also worth noting that we haven’t heard much from the key decision-makers in quite some time.
That’s about to change.