The Maple Leafs' Trade Targets Are Finally Coming Into Focus

Toronto has had a challenging start to their season, leading to the trade talks coming a bit earlier than usual, but some clear focus beginning to show what the Leafs would like to do.

With clear areas that can be upgraded, Toronto has already begun examining how the team can improve, and it appears that a specific upgrade has been targeted as a priority, and one Toronto could begin working on soon.

With the Leafs struggles in net that could be filled with the return of Joseph Woll, and their blueline getting back Morgan Rielly and Chris Tanev from injured reserve, what seems natural to fix externally is the offense, and appears the Leafs plan.

According to David Pagnotta of 'The Fourth Period', the Toronto Maple Leafs are still looking for a top forward, and may use their available depth options to help them in that regard.

Pagnotta says that some of the Leafs bottom-six forwards could be on the move to create space for the Leafs to make a trade in their top-six, with a center seemingly the main focus.

It seems that Pagnotta indicates that Toronto is a team that could find itself in trade talks soon, and with a clear pressing area of need the team would be directly targeting.

It's well known the Leafs need to add to their offense, something that this season they would like to add more scoring in the lineup, and it presents what will be Toronto's trade plans.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are still searching for a high caliber forward option, with a center seemingly being the focus.

The Leafs appear poised to seek out options in the center market and what options exist. There's no clear player in mind, although one popular name has been Nazem Kadri, with the former Leaf someone who looks to be on the outs in Calgary.

It is a wonder if the Leafs, knowing that they have not found a suitable replacement for Mitch Marner, attempt to move Tavares over to the wing and add a center if there's a better option down the middle vs a winger.

The move of Tavares to the wing could make sense for Toronto as they've already broken up the pairing of Tavares and Nylander, opening up a further shift to the Leafs top-six.

The Leafs have to consider what sort of player they want to get. One thing that held the team back was not finding the right player who ticked all the boxes GM Brad Treliving wanted, not just replacing Marner's point totals.

It's clear that offense is one area that the Leafs want to improve on, and feel they need to improve on, but they may need to prove they have the pieces.

Matias Maccelli and Max Domi are cap dumps, but if they don't want to move Easton Cowan, they may not be able to net a top fish.

What's clear is Toronto needs forward help, but what is unclear is what they can afford, not just in price but what they could net with the pieces they have, and with what return?

With a ton of uncertainty around the roster, the Toronto Maple Leafs have a clear target for what they want to do to improve the team this season, but have to be able to do so without avoiding the same restraints that hurt them this offseason again.