Insider hints only four Maple Leafs are truly untouchable right now
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
NHL Hockey Insider Elliotte Friedman hinted that only four Maple Leafs players are off limits when it comes to a trade, as the team contemplates potential deals.
As the team navigates through injuries, a below .500 record, and immense fan pressure, the Toronto Maple Leafs are staring at an uphill climb when it comes to repeating as Atlantic Division Champions.
GM Brad Treliving is scheduled to speak to the media on Tuesday to address the state of the team and it's unknown what will be discussed however he's certainly going to face his fair share of questions from the Toronto media.
Friedman gives his list of Maple Leafs 'untouchables'
If the team was willing to make a big splash to shake things up, it could means all the cards on the table.
But NHL Hockey Insider Elliotte Friedman touched on the Leafs' potential trade aspirations on the latest 32 Thoughts episode and revealed who might be on the chopping block.
Friedman suggested that, in his view, only four Maple Leafs players are effectively 'off limits' in trade talks right now: Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares, and Matthew Knies.
Friedman suggested that, in his view, only four Maple Leafs players are effectively 'off limits' in trade talks right now: Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares, and Matthew Knies.
I think it's four guys. I think it's Matthews, Nylander, Tavares and Knies. Other than that, I think they are looking to see what's out there.
You could loosely frame that group as a new 'Core Four' for this era with Knies replacing the departed Mitch Marner, however Craig Berube hates the term, and would like the media to stay far away from referring to them as such.
Who could Toronto end up trading away?
But going off of Friedman's comments, it truly is a wildcard when it comes to who could be traded. The Maple Leafs may elect to have smaller deals for names such as Simon Benoit, Philippe Myers, or Matias Maccelli in order to bring in better fits.
Or, in a more dramatic scenario, the team could explore a bigger trade involving established roster players such as Morgan Rielly, Max Domi, Bobby McMann or Brandon Carlo -- purely as examples of the kind of names that would have to be in play for a true shakeup.
Right now the team needs to improve in any capacity, and dangling some of their bigger names may be the only way to do it. You have your core that you're trying to build a more defensive, gritty, and hard-working group around.
You can make the case that players like Domi and Rielly don't fit Craig Berube's preferred system as cleanly as some of the newer additions -- eventually you need to move on.
The more Toronto continues to play the same lineup, they're going to get the same results -- and repeat history over and over.
While there is no indication that any specific player is being shopped or that a trade is imminent, Friedman's comments do underline how few true untouchables there may be if the Leafs decide to change the mix.
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