Toronto Maple Leafs May Be Forced to Pivot to Plan B in Trade Deadline Strategy, per Insider
The Toronto Maple Leafs need an injection of offense in their forward corps, and the team may be forced to resort to another option if things fall through.
With a month until the 2024-25 NHL trade deadline, Brad Treliving is working hard to make a move in order to give his team the best chance at postseason success. They've been linked to Dylan Cozens recently, and have kicked at the tires of several potential candidates.
But their search for a center is getting tougher by the day, and if they can't find what they need; they need to shift gears.
According to NHL Hockey Insider David Pagnotta, the Leafs could target a scoring winger to compliment their lineup instead.
"It's no secret, they want to upgrade their center position. If it's 2C, they move John Tavares to the left. There's also talk if things really don't work out, if they could find a left wing scorer, they could add and keep 91 at the dot."
Toronto's Plan B Involves Offensive Winger To Help John Tavares
Given that Toronto's second line winger Max Pacioretty is struggling hard recently, and with questions about his long-term health, it could behoove Brad Treliving to take a look at a scoring compliment to John Tavares.
A hybrid scorer/playmaker, Tavares would be able to dish out enough assists to give both William Nylander and the new addition (whoever it may be) in order to make an impact.
Toronto could move Bobby McMann up to the second line, but he's well suited as the third-line sparkplug unless he goes bonkers and puts up a wild goal streak.
But otherwise, they are fairly thin on the wing in terms of reliable scoring opportunities with names like Pontus Holmberg and Nick Robertson not sparking much excitement.
There are some names who the Maple Leafs could go after such as Jeff Skinner, Brandon Tanev, Chris Kreider, and Patrick Kane who would be able to all find some type of synergy with Tavares. In the case of Tanev, he could slip to the third for McMann and provide the offense and defense needed down there.
Toronto needs to make sure they have two reliable options who can score on their top two lines. Matthew Knies and Auston Matthews lock down line one, and for now, Tavares and Nylander on two.
But if the team can add another impact player to lessen the load on an impressive-but aging Tavares; it'll be a gamechanger come postseason time.
| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 6 | 831 ANSWERS Toronto Maple Leafs May Be Forced to Pivot to Plan B in Trade Deadline Strategy, per Insider Do you think Toronto should trade for a center, winger, defenseman, or goaltender? | ||
| Center | 451 | 54.3 % |
| Winger | 43 | 5.2 % |
| Defenseman | 307 | 36.9 % |
| Goaltender | 30 | 3.6 % |
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