Three Maple Leafs remain on the trade market as the NHL roster freeze nears its end

The need for the Toronto Maple Leafs to win now despite their struggles, and the lack of top prospects, has led to the possibility of the Leafs moving on from players currently in their roster to get a deal done.

As was outlined by general manager Brad Treliving, the goal of the Leafs is to make roster-for-roster trades, an NHLer for an NHLer in return, although not set in stone, it seems to be the optimal plan for the Leafs.

With a lack of premier prospects and high draft picks, Toronto may be poised to use their current NHLers as leverage in a trade, and three names have emerged as players Toronto could seriously move on from to make a trade work.

Three names have been linked to the Toronto Maple Leafs as potential trade targets for rivals as the Leafs look to balance salary to make a deal work.

According to a report from David Pagnotta of 'The Fourth Period', Max Domi, Matias Maccelli, and Brandon Carlo are three names the Leafs are looking at for salary balance in a deal.

Domi has the largest contract of the bunch at $3.75M, with Carlo and Maccelli only slightly behind with $3.49M and $3.43M respectively.

All three players could find themselves at risk of being moved if it helps the Leafs target a key roster asset, and could be the best option to help the team overall.

Max Domi and Matias Maccelli could both have value for a team seeking offense, Domi being a potential veteran add for a team and Maccelli as a younger option.

Both have been in-and-out of the Leafs lineup and have faced consistency questions, but at their best can play on the top-six, and could make sense on a rebuilding team looking for a scoring boost.

Carlo could fill a potential hole on defense if the Leafs want to add to their blueline. Acquired last trade deadline from Boston, injuries have kept Carlo out of the Leafs lineup, but just five points in 38 games haven't given Toronto the player they expected.

Most importantly, a veteran roster player helps balance salary, but a prospect or pick would still likely need to go the other way from Toronto's end, but provides a financial sweetener that could help the Leafs make a deal for a top trade target.