Elliotte Friedman details the Maple Leafs' two-step trade deadline strategy
A new report from Elliotte Friedman shares how the Leafs are looking at their lineup ahead of the trade deadline.
Elliotte Friedman outlined the two trade moves that the Leafs may make that would both allow them to sell off expendable players, but even have them be buyers.
The report says that the Leafs would want to gain some assets via a trade, but then flip those assets to help add options they can buy on.
I think what they'd love to do is see if they can accumulate some assets and then see if they can use those assets to do something else that helps them, that's the way I've kind of looked at them.
What isn't clear is if the goal is for both of these things, if it happens as described, happen at the same time being the Leafs selling and then buying right away, or selling now and waiting to buy in the offseason.
Examining what Brad Treliving may have in store for the deadline
Brad Treliving's trade deadline plans aren't much clear with this new information, but seems to indicate that Treliving, even if the Leafs continue to sit outside the playoff hunt, isn't going to tear it all down.
The goal would be for Treliving to recoup assets that if this isn't Toronto's year, that a rebuild isn't a plan and they can retool to re-contend next season.
So it would make it unlikely that a total sell-off is on the way, but it could still mean that pieces such as Bobby McMann could be on the trade block to gain the assets that can be flipped elsewhere.
McMann, who is on an expiring contract, is an intriguing option for his bargain price of $1.35M, that making it hard to keep him with teams coveting his cheap cost and ability to play in the top-six.
It's little surprise to think that the Leafs goal is to commit to a soft rebuild. Toronto lacks the prospect depth and draft picks to feel comfortable in a rebuilding mode, but still have enough pieces for a bounce back 2026-2027 season.
The trade deadline focus for the Toronto Maple Leafs looks poised to retool rather than rebuild, allowing them to move on from a disappointing season and focus on the next.
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FEVRIER 26|710 ANSWERS Elliotte Friedman details the Maple Leafs' two-step trade deadline strategy Should the Leafs give up on this season and focus on next? | ||
| Yes | 618 | 87 % |
| No | 92 | 13 % |
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