Brad Treliving May Be Forced to Trade Top Prospect to Bolster Leafs at Deadline

The trade deadline is quickly approaching and with Brad Treliving under immense pressure to improve the Maple Leafs lineup -- no doubt some type of move is going to be made.

Linked to big names such as Dylan Cozens and Brayden Schenn, Toronto is clearly trying to make a splash. However, it may end up costing them big: Fraser Minten.

So with Toronto needing a big improvement -- Is trading Fraser Minten worth it?

Let's break it down.

If Brad Treliving is going to get rid of Fraser Minten, he can't slack in terms of a return. While the team has been linked heavily to Philadelphia's Scott Laughton, the game he provides is more akin to a third-line center role, and not the true impact player the Maple Leafs need.

Ideally, Toronto would like to have John Tavares move to the third line so replacing him can't be done without a price. It's been made abundantly clear that the Leafs want a player with term, and that in itself raises a player's value.

Brayden Schenn and Dylan Cozens would both cost a fortune in terms of picks, prospects, and NHL-ready youngsters -- but is it worth the price?

In Schenn, you're adding a veteran Stanley Cup winner who is still an elite two-way center and can add a boatload of scoring, special teams mastery, and a familiarity with head coach Craig Berube.

He also comes with three more years of service, which would perfectly line up with Auston Matthews' contract -- and would give Toronto a bit of insurance in case Mitch Marner walks.

Cozens, the Buffalo Sabres' bright young center is also signed long-term (albeit a bit more expensive), but he adds the size, scoring prowess, solid two-way game and is just starting to get into his prime.

There's also talk of a potential Easton Cowan trade package, and it's a fun little debate don't you think?

Does Toronto hedge their bets on the offensively gifted, but not yet ready Cowan? Or do they keep a sound defensive player in Minten who has the potential to add secondary scoring and has proven he can play in the NHL?

Either way you slice it, if Toronto wants to improve down the middle then they are going to need to make a critical decision -- and it involves either Fraser Minten or Easton Cowan.