6 Maple Leafs who could be first out the door if the sell-off starts

This was supposed to be the season of a new identity and high expectations for the Maple Leafs however it's been anything but. Mired in a five-game losing streak, if they can't string some wins together then it's going to be time to sell.

With that being said, who is going to be on the chopping block? We here at Hockey Patrol are going to take a look at six potential names who could be gone.

McMann has been thrown around in rumors over the last few weeks and given that he's been on kind of a tear recently -- his stock is only growing.

A pending free agent, he could be earning a deal close to $5-million a season based on his skillset and similar style to Kiefer Sherwood (a player who is going to get a huge pay raise).

Toronto could certainly use him back, however at 30 years old he's not exactly a spring chicken and there's no telling when his speed is going to start regressing.

But you're getting someone who is incredible at three things: Skating really fast, scoring goals, and hitting. Ranked consistently as one of the fastest players in the league, teams would love to add his breakaway speed and physicality to the lineup; especially for the playoffs.

Going back to Sherwood, McMann could get a deal similar to what Vancouver received from San Jose, which was two picks and a prospect so if he keeps his pace then it could be a great bargain.

Two years of McMann for two draft picks and a prospect? Not too bad, though the fans won't necessarily be the happiest if he's shipped out.

Another player who has been talked about recently who is also a pending free agent is Scott Laughton. The Oakville native has been vocal about wanting to stay in Toronto and the team could certainly use him as a leader and mentor for the new crop of players.

But teams are going to be nipping at the bud for a player who can offer elite face-off and PK ability, can score goals, hits, is intimidating and nasty to play against and makes only $1.5-million thanks to retention.

Toronto won't get a return near what they paid for Laughton however teams might be willing to pay a bit of a premium for his skillset. If Toronto were to get a mid-range pick and maybe a low-tier prospect who is a project, it could be a solid deal.

Though the team should probably keep him around given his bond and connection with rookie Easton Cowan and if they want him to grow then having the lovable Laughton around is a smarter call.

The veteran Jarnkrok has often been a healthy scratch this season, and though he started off hot, he cooled down immensely and found himself out of the lineup.

He's making a fair bit of money to not do much, and with it being reported that he's headed back to Sweden after this year; it's best to get at least something for him.

The Oilers are looking for a team who want to add a bottom-six forward who can eat minutes, play everywhere and be a bit of the glue that keeps things together.

Jarnkrok is exactly that, and he deserves one more chance at making a Cup run before he heads back home and potentially ends his NHL career (Toronto isn't near a playoff spot).

Don't expect much from the Oilers or any other team who acquires him though as this is definitely a cap dump and a means to open up a roster spot for someone else like Jacob Quillan but a mid-to-late pick in the next couple of years would suffice.

The newest name on the roster (at least in terms of acquisitions), Stecher has come in and been a beacon of hope for the Maple Leafs defense even if he's cooled off.

Stecher was claimed off waivers from the Oilers and immediately made an impact, and helped solidify Toronto's defense while adding a lot of that passion the team was lacking.

He's a great locker room presence and fans love him, so watching him go will be hard but considering how cheap is he and how much he raised his stock since leaving Edmonton; he could bring back something.

Stecher gobbles up minutes, can play on both special teams units, is a right-handed shot and a great skater and puck-mover. He's also dirt-cheap and a pending free agent so it's not a huge commitment.

It wouldn't be surprising to see a team pay a little bit extra for Stecher and for a free player to give value both here and when he leaves is immensely beneficial and a rarity in today's game.

Disappointing could be the best word to describe Carlo's time with the Maple Leafs though that's not entirely his fault let's be clear.

Not only was he acquired for both a first-round pick and prospect Fraser Minten -- a huge overpayment from Brad Treliving, but he ended up getting injured in a bit of a freak circumstance and had to miss a bit of time.

Carlo was supposed to bring elite shutdown defense and had solid numbers in Boston but hasn't replicated it really in Toronto and it may be best to cut their losses.

But it also handicaps the team considerably with Chris Tanev out for potentially the season, so they would need to make sure they get back at least something close to what they paid for him. Unlike Laughton, the team can't really replace Carlo right away.

He's still got term and there's a lot to like about Carlo's game so it might be best to keep him and perhaps dangle him in the summer when the team has a better direction of where they are headed.

This one hurts. If there is one player you can look at who time and time again who has saved the Maple Leafs its OEL.

From clutch goals to savvy assists to giving opponents a piece of his mind; he's put in a vintage performance this year and could very well bring back a lot of good pieces.

Teams would love to have OEL -- He's a Olympian, a former Cup winner, one of the best defensemen of the last 15 years, can run a power-play, and does so on a reasonable contract.

Given how good he has been with his past accomplishments and pedigree, the Maple Leafs could dangle him and potentially walk away with a good haul including maybe even a first or second-round pick.

Again, like McMann, if the team is able to maximize a return for two years of Ekman-Larsson then it's a huge boost to their retool and if they want to get a bit younger then he has to go.

Plus, it would open up a spot for a player like William Villeneuve who has been toiling in the minors for years and deserves at least a look -- same with Marshall Rifai (who the team just recalled on Wednesday).

There you have it. It's not a perfect list of course, and the team could very well stand pat with some of these names and trade others who weren't mentioned such as Simon Benoit and Matias Maccelli.

However these moves at least help kickstart a retooling and even if they don't use the picks they could acquire in the draft, it'll help bring in the players they really need.

We have about a week to see if the Maple Leafs are going to have any kind of a fighting chance, and if not then they have a lot of homework to do in order to make things right.

Also read on Hockey Patrol :
Two Maple Leafs hit the trade block, and one name will surprise fans