Brad Treliving and the Maple Leafs Came Very Close to a Trade Deadline Disaster

As the Toronto Maple Leafs gear up for the second round of the playoffs, they are set with a roster that is league's apart from the one that challenged Florida in 2023, with a new focus on defense, goaltending, and hard-nosed play.

Besides the offseason acquisitions, the team added both Scott Laughton and Brandon Carlo at the trade deadline in order to shore up their lineup ahead of a potential Stanley Cup run. So far the moves have worked out pretty well all things considered, though some fans may clamour for more.

Linked to several high profile names, they decided against a huge splash in favor of some smaller pieces.

One name attached for months was that of Brock Nelson; a pending free agent who was expected to bring a lot of offensive firepower to wherever he ended up.

Managing to land in Colorado for a huge package that included a first round pick as well as prospect Calum Ritchie; an expensive package that was meant to give the Avalanche a huge advantage going into Round One.

But Dallas sent them packing, and now they have nothing to show for it.

Looking back on it, it seems Treliving avoided a catastrophic move and it's now drawing comparisons to a trade that befell the Maple Leafs previously.

Giving up two draft picks, a mid-high level prospect and a solid and versatile depth defender for two and a half months of Nelson and prospect William Dufour.

If Nelson had come in and dominated, then things might be different but 13 points in 19 games isn't much to sniff at; especially with his track record.

But for a former 35-goal scorer and someone who averaged three goals a postseason ended up going goalless and only registering four assists. He was also the worst player on the ice when the Avalanche were eliminated in Game 7.

It was a poor showing that proves that making the big move doesn't always equate to the best results.

Granted, Toronto gave up a couple of big prospects too in Nikita Grebenkin and Fraser Minten in order to acquire what they needed, but they filled in specific roles that needed attention, and the price for Nelson would have been way too high with the Leafs sorely lacking in other categories.

Imagine if Toronto had traded a player like Easton Cowan, or a package that had Minten and Grebenkin sent out for Nelson; if the team had lost in the first round to Ottawa, or Nelson was non-existent; fans would be screaming for Brad Treliving's head.

But it was nothing like the package the Avalanche gave up for the pending free agent veteran, and GM Chris MacFarland is probably kicking himself over making such a drastic move with nothing to show for it.

One man not kicking himself though is Brad Treliving, who may have not made the biggest move at the deadline, but may have made the right ones instead.