Toronto Maple Leafs' Trade Option Officially Off the Table After New Contract

A lot of the headlines over the past several weeks has surrounded the Toronto Maple Leafs' gameplan for what to do when it comes to making a splash via the trade market.

They can make a move to bring in a cheap depth piece or be able to potentially spring for a big name target given they don't mind handing over a few potential future pieces. Whatever Brad Treliving does (or doesn't do) will be scrutinized heavily, so the right piece has to be brought in lest he face backlash.

Among the bevy of stars that could potentially be in play, often times the best pickups are the ones who fly under the radar. Toronto experienced this previously with Ryan O'Reilly as he was a key factor in their 2022 first round victory.

One pickup that could have made a big impact for Toronto was Anaheim's Frank Vatrano. He was linked to the team previously, however it looks like he's not going anywhere after signing a three-year, $18M contract extension on Sunday.

The contract comes with deferred money, meaning that initially he won't be paid up front too much money and it's backloaded toward the end of his deal and help with California's tax situation.

So with this latest development, what can Brad Treliving do?

For a general manager who is so adamant about making a deal, it's perplexing that he's been so quiet on the transaction front. Knowing how desperate Toronto was to improve, there was no doubt he could have negotiated a price for Vatrano and signed him.

Toronto loses out on yet another piece they could potentially add leaving Brad Treliving in a bit of a rut. Names are slowly falling off the board, and if he doesn't act soon (especially given a newly implemented time crunch) then it could be a disaster.

There is always the free agent market and Toronto has been linked to three-time Cup winner Jonathan Toews but he hasn't played in years and is just making a comeback. The team needs someone who can contribute now, in the playoffs and in the future.

It's worrying that there seemingly is no gameplan from Treliving although reports have stated otherwise. He's got several options to pick up that don't cost too much and whether he's hesitant or paranoid of being swindled is unknown.

The clock is ticking for the Maple Leafs to make a move, and time waits for no one. If the team doesn't narrow down their focus and pick up the proper piece, they'll lose more than just a good player; they'll lose when it matters.