Maple Leafs' trade approach this season reportedly comes with one big restriction
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
If the Toronto Maple Leafs want to make a trade this season, Elliotte Friedman believes they aren't looking to mortgage their future to do it, based on what he's hearing around the league.
There's been heavy discussion for months regarding the Toronto Maple Leafs and a potential trade to improve either their top-six forward group, top-four defensive pairings or both.
The team needs a bit more firepower in up front to help offset the loss of Mitch Marner, and while adding Troy Stecher helps around the edges, the team still needs a true top-tier puck-moving defenceman.
Friedman reveals roadblock preventing Maple Leafs from upgrading
That's going to take quite a few pieces and according to Elliotte Friedman, the Maple Leafs' mindset isn't going to help matters.
In the most recent 32 Thoughts podcast, Friedman noted that the Maple Leafs were looking to make deals that do not involve their future, echoing his comments during Hockey Night in Canada's Saturday's Headlines segment:
I heard they don't wanna make futures deals, they made some last year...they wanted to take a run, I don't see that right now.
Friedman added during the weekend segment that Toronto was not making deals for 'futures' but wanted to make 'roster for roster' trades:
What I'm hearing is that they want to make hockey trades, roster for roster.
In practice, that likely means players like Easton Cowan, Ben Danford, and their 2028 first-round pick are pieces the Leafs would strongly prefer not to move.
Of course, plans can change if the season goes sideways, but for now the focus sounds like it's on «roster for roster» moves.
How Toronto can navigate their difficult trade situation
While things do look an uphill climb for Brad Treliving and the Maple Leafs, they still have some intriguing pieces that could get a deal done.
Players like Matias Maccelli and Bobby McMann are two forwards who could fetch a more suitable lineup option, as Maccelli hasn't gelled with the system so far, and McMann is getting older and is fairly streaky.
Selling as high as you can on them while they have some stock is the best way to maximize a return, and while you're not getting someone elite back -- they can be part of a bigger package.
The team could also shift gears and trade off some of their larger deals as part of their upgrade plans.
If the Leafs wanted to chase a high-end, big-ticket defenceman, they'd almost certainly have to move out a significant contract as part of the package, not just depth pieces.
Based on Friedman's comments, it sounds like there are really only four true untouchables on the current roster.
If they're serious about avoiding futures trades, they'll need to get creative with money-in, money-out moves and be willing to move real roster players -- not just the fringes.
| POLL | ||
NOVEMBRE 20 | 1122 ANSWERS Maple Leafs' trade approach this season reportedly comes with one big restriction Should Toronto trade their top assets or keep them and make 'roster trades'? | ||
| Roster Trades | 863 | 76.9 % |
| Trade Them! | 259 | 23.1 % |
| List of polls | ||