Leafs GM Brad Treliving gearing up to make his first trade

The Leafs are still looking for a star third-line centre or possibly a solid winger. They still need to figure out what it is they want to do with Ryan Reaves, David Kampf and Calle Jarnkrok in order to clear up some space on the salary cap, and rumor has it the Leafs could be looking to trade at least one of these three.

Leafs GM Brad Treliving has been in his role for over a year now with the Leafs and hasn't made a real trade yet and it's starting to seem more and more apparent that the organization will be making a trade very shortly. The team simply cannot begin the regular season with their current roster.

Brad Treliving hasn't done all that much in terms of trades since taking over, but he did make some key signings this off-season and he is likely taking a wait and see approach rather than rushing into things, which is understandable.

A recent survey by the Athletic ranked the Leafs team 30th in the NHL out of 32 teams for overall fan-base confidence, which is atrocious and clearly Brad Treliving is going to have to do something to make the fans happy again. The signings of Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Chris Tanev was a start, but clearly more will be needed. All it takes is a big trade and he will have redeemed himself.

Brad Treliving will always have the dark cloud hanging over his head when he was the GM of the Calgary Flames and sent away fan favorite Matthew Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers in exchange for Jonathan Huberdeau and Mackenzie Weegar.

Jonathan Huberdeau hasn't panned out well for the Flames and Matthew Tkachuk just won a Stanley Cup with the Panthers. Treliving will have to absolutely redeem himself now.

So far Treliving has only made minor moves, trading Ilya Lyubushkin, Joel Edmundson and Connor Dewar for 3rd, 4th and 6th round picks.

Brad Treliving traded for Chris Tanev in exchange for a 7th round pick a few days before free agency and then signed him to a six-year contract. PTanev had 19 points in 75 games last year split between the Calgary Flames and Dallas Stars.

Aside from this move and all the other minor moves, it's been 15 months without a true major trade, and now that the next season is on its way shortly, and with the way the Leafs roster looks, we will likely be seeing something big happening.

Source: Editor in Leaf
Expect the Toronto Maple Leafs GM to Make His First Trade Any Time Now

Source: HockeyDB
Chris Tanev Stats