Why the Maple Leafs are still committed to an aggressive win-now plan with this core
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Things are threatening to get worse for the Toronto Maple Leafs if they continue their current pace, but they are still committed to giving their core a shot to win.
Sitting 8-8-2 and near the basement of the Atlantic Division, the Maple Leafs are struggling to not only present their new identity they stressed so heavily, but with several injuries and under immense pressure -- the clock is ticking.
Despite this, the team hasn't given up hope they can turn things around, and have had unwavering confidence in their roster even if the results show otherwise.
Whether that be a trade for a top-four defenseman or a top-six forward, all discussion points to the Maple Leafs making a move, and a new update confirms the team's aggressiveness.
What Chris Johnston's update tells us about Brad Treliving's plan
TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston appeared on his podcast The CJ Show on Thursday and noted that the Maple Leafs are still holding an aggressive mindset when it comes to making improvements:
I think the Leafs as an organization are still gonna operate in a very aggressive manner to try to put this core of players in a chance to win again.
The team has already made several big moves over the last year including trading Mitch Marner this past offseason for Nicolas Roy, and at least year's deadline went all-in to acquire Scott Laughton and Brandon Carlo in separate deals involving not only top prospects Fraser Minten and Nikita Grebenkin but two first rounders.
Couple that with bringing in Matias Maccelli, Dakota Joshua; the team has always had the win now mindset.
But their decision to shift their identity into a 'grittier, nastier' team has had the complete opposite effect.
Teams are not scared to get in the Maple Leafs' face right now, though there are minimal opportunities where Toronto is actually in the proper position.
Looking at the stats, they paint a pretty rough picture of how the team is playing right now. They rank dead last in GA/60 (3.41), have given up the fourth-most shots (422), and sit 30th in SV% (.882).
So they are running the risk of wasting not only Auston Matthews and William Nylander's prime years, but both Matthew Knies and John Tavares took big pay cuts to stick around long-term.
With the reports surfacing that the team has discussed Rasmus Andersson in a potential trade, and still being linked to names like Nazem Kadri; Toronto's mindset is still set on turning this season around.
So can being aggressive still work out for the Maple Leafs?
Why a win-now mindset could shape the Leafs' next big decision
It's been an underwhelming season, sure. But there are still 64 games remaining in the season, including an Olympic break that will give those who aren't playing a chance to reset their focus.
If the team waves the white flag now, that gives fans the impression that they are regretting their recent moves, and while there may be some buyer's remorse they can still find a deal.
Analysts have discussed what that upgrade is going to cost Toronto, and there's no doubt that their 2028 first-round pick would be inquired about, and so too would Easton Cowan and Ben Danford.
There's also been talk about names like Matias Maccelli or Nick Robertson being part of a package for Rasmus Andersson, so if the team wants to make a move they are going to need to pay up.
With the fan pressure at an all-time high, especially with how management sold this new version of the team only for it to go up in smoke thus far, the onus is to make not only a move but a move that will genuinely improve them now, and in the postseason.
For whatever reason, if the team decides to part with their last bit of the future be it a draft pick or prospect -- they aren't gambling with house money anymore.
With only a few more years left for this core, the team's all-in mentality might still pay off, but if it doesn't, this season will be viewed as a clear failure.
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