The Maple Leafs have been working in earnest to try to complete a meaningful trade, and NHL insider David Pagnotta has revealed why it hasn’t happened yet.

It’s been a trying year for the Maple Leafs, with not much positivity to speak of this season. The team has endured a litany of injuries and has compiled a 16-15-5 record through 36 games to begin the season.

The Leafs are currently just 1 point up on the Columbus Blue Jackets at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, and have won just 2 of their last 7 games.

All season long, GM Brad Treliving has been trying to complete a trade to address needs both on the blueline and in the top-6. Unfortunately, the right deal has not yet presented itself. On Tuesday, The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta explained why.

Leafs having trouble finding reasonable deals for players like Domi, Maccelli, Carlo

Per Pagnotta, the Leafs are attempting to make money in, money out trades, as the salary cap is currently preventing them from adding the pieces they want to add. That means finding homes for guys like Max Domi, Brandon Carlo and Matias Maccelli is necessary to open up the cap space they need for a meaningful addition.

With Domi’s obvious offensive struggles for most of the season, Brandon Carlo’s injury and inconsistency, and Maccelli’s lack of playing time, it’s been tough for the Leafs to deal from a position of strength on any one of those fronts.

Selling low on assets not something Brad Treliving wants to do

The offers have not been to Treliving’s liking, and rather than selling low, he seems to be taking a more patient approach to the situation.

Now, with Carlo nearing a return following surgery, Domi’s highlight reel goal on Tuesday, and Maccelli finally getting back into the lineup and playing well for the Leafs, the team could finally be seeing their stock rise, which could open the doors for a trade.

In terms of who they might be after, there is some belief that the Leafs have their eye on pending UFAs Alex Tuch and Rasmus Andersson. Unfortunately, there may not be a way to acquire them both, as the team is dealing with limited assets, and no combination of Carlo, Domi and Maccelli is going to be enough to acquire either player on their own.

We’ll see how this all unfolds, but reports have indicated that Treliving has been very active again this season, checking in on many of the players who have been rumoured to be available.

Previously on Toronto Hockey Daily