Maple Leafs may not have a choice but to explore a trade for a second-line center
Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs may have to add a 2C to their trade target list as some concern is starting to grow around John Tavares' production as of late.
Things are starting to turn around for the Maple Leafs after a rough start to their 2025-26 season. Winners of four out of their last five games, their recent clash with the Winnipeg Jets could have been the catalyst that not only kickstarts Auston Matthews again; but the entire team.
That's a huge boost heading into the latter half of the season, and with a tight Atlantic Division, if the team gets on a hot streak then they should be able to make a strong push for a playoff spot.
Nobody is talking about John Tavares' decline
However they are going to need to have everyone on board if they are going to do so, and while Matthews, Matthew Knies, and even guys like Max Domi and Nick Robertson picking things up, one name seems to be missing: John Tavares.
After a blistering start to the season, Tavares has cooled off significantly. He kicked off this year with 28 points through his first 23 games. But recently, he's been nearly invisible.
Over his last 17 games, he's only registered nine points (3 goals, 6 assists), with a minus-eight, 12 PIM, and 17 giveaways. This is hardly your typical Tavares fare, and he's seemingly been on the downward trajectory for awhile:
After peaking in 2022-23, Tavares has steadily dropped off when it comes to production however going from last year to this year has been a steep decline.
Often the unsung hero for the team, Tavares has been unable to recapture that magic over the last month or so and it's concerning not because there may be an injury; but there may not be one which is arguable worse.
If he's somehow dealing with something we are unaware of, then sure that would be a clear cause for his drop-off but if he isn't then we might be in trouble.
Brad Treliving may need to adjust trade targets this season
So if he's not hurt and just getting worse, Toronto has just signed him to a long-term extension but can't have him play 2C minutes especially if he keeps up this pattern, so it might behoove Brad Treliving to think about potential trades.
While he doesn't have to necessarily break the bank, if he does want to bring in a center it's going to cost him a lot. Someone like a Brayden Schenn or Jared McCann could work but are they the needle-movers like Tavares used to be?
They could use internal options and move one of their centers up, but they aren't exactly the star power we come to expect from Toronto's top-six.
They very well could be, but they are going to be expensive options both now and in the future. If Toronto wants to sign Scott Laughton still, and they have Nicolas Roy in tow, what happens to Tavares?
It might be time to modify his game a bit and allow him to take face-offs however patrol the wing instead. He's still elite in the dot, but may need a facilitator himself to get going.
There also could be nothing to fear, as Tavares could pick things up soon and we could be prematurely worried about his production.
But if he doesn't and the team doesn't have a Plan B, then what?
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 3 | 1173 ANSWERS Maple Leafs may not have a choice but to explore a trade for a second-line center Do you think John Tavares is still the right call at the Maple Leafs' 2C? | ||
| Yes | 971 | 82.8 % |
| No | 202 | 17.2 % |
| List of polls | ||