The Hockey Central panel discussed the Toronto Maple Leafs and the impending trade deadline throughout the course of the weekend. Whether or whether GM Brad Treliving should be a buyer was the main topic of discussion.
It’s a worthwhile inquiry for the Maple Leafs. On the one hand, there are valid arguments against buying at the trade deadline, at least not for a prominent trade rental. For the Maple Leafs, the procedure just isn’t effective and never has been.
However, teams are tricked into thinking that they can win everything with only one more adjustment. Even though the team’s track record indicates that they have thrown away a lot of draft capital and prospective players in the process, it can be difficult to resist throwing in everything at the last minute.
John Tavares and the Maple Leafs’ opening line were among topics covered by the panel. What were their thoughts on that matter?
First burning question: At the trade deadline, should Treliving and the Maple Leafs be buyers?First burning question: At the trade deadline, should Treliving and the Maple Leafs be buyers?
The Maple Leafs, under general manager Brad Treliving, should be active buyers at the trade deadline, the panel discussed. The significance of the team’s current circumstances and Treliving’s assertiveness in the trade market were underlined during the conversation.
Treliving is most certainly going to be a buyer, everyone agreed. That is, however, dependent upon how the Maple Leafs perform and finish in the standings before the trade deadline on March 8. Treliving’s strategy will rely on the team’s standing at that point, the panel agreed.
As of right now, the panel wasn’t sure Treliving would part with a first-round draft pick until the team made a big progress. To make Treliving more receptive to such a move, the Maple Leafs would have to demonstrate their worth.
The panel made the assumption that the team might be searching for defensive reinforcements, although they cautioned against making expensive additions unless the circumstances were similar to those of the previous season. The panel discussed the differences between buying a few goods at the corner store (making small moves) and heading to Costco for a large purchase (making large additions, similar to last year’s trade deadline strategy). [Aside: I think this team should only make the smart decision to recruit affordable players to cover gaps on the roster.]
The general consensus among Hockey Central’s panelists is that before Treliving would consider making significant trades, the Maple Leafs would need to go on a winning run in the weeks preceding the trade deadline. If not, the emphasis can be on making minor adjustments to the lineup.
The second burning question is: Which player fits the Matthews/Marner top line the best?
The optimum combination for the top line between Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews was also a topic of discussion among the panel. They talked about and considered a number of ideas.
Elliotte Friedman first recommended looking at the internal possibility of pushing John Tavares to the front line. He used Tavares’s relationship with Marner as an early illustration of how Mikheyev’s presence improved a play.
Although Friedman recognized the general consensus that Matthews should be shielded, he thought that Tavares’ experimentation could be beneficial. The panel stressed the need for someone who could successfully support Matthews and Marner while remaining receptive to the concept of looking at other internal choices.
The Maple Leafs’ Final Figure
The Hockey Central panel concluded by talking about two issues. What should the Maple Leafs do at the trade deadline, first and foremost? What internal choices are there for maximizing the top line, secondly? Fans of the Maple Leafs could be in for some surprises based on their responses.
