When the Toronto Maple Leafs hired Brad Treliving as General Manager, a distinct reputation preceded him. Treliving has long been regarded as one of the NHL’s most active executives when it comes to working the phones on the trade market. Part of this activity is personal preference, but much of it was likely a product of his tenure with the Calgary Flames, a market that players enjoy, but one that historically struggles to attract top-tier unrestricted free agents.

These challenges created an environment in Calgary where acquiring talent via trade was vital to the team’s success. However, while Treliving is reported to be involved in everything, the numbers suggest he isn’t always the most active when it comes to finalizing deals. Over the course of his career, Treliving has completed just 45 total trades, acquiring 33 players and 23 draft picks while shipping out 24 players and 34 picks.

Sometimes, however, the defining moments of a GM’s tenure aren’t the trades they make, but the ones they don’t, whether by their own choice or because someone else saved them from pulling the trigger.

The Need for Organizational Checks and Balances

Some franchises implement strict checks and balances before a blockbuster trade can be ratified. Prior to Treliving’s arrival in Toronto, it was widely reported that then-President Brendan Shanahan intervened to shut down a massive deal orchestrated by Kyle Dubas that would have sent Matthew Knies and multiple first-round picks to the Chicago Blackhawks.

While other teams around the league operate with similar safeguards, reports suggest that since arriving in Toronto, Treliving has operated without those same restrictions. This autonomy raises concerns, especially when details of near-miss trades emerge that leave the fanbase scratching their heads.

According to a report from Nick Kypreos in the Toronto Sun, Treliving may have narrowly been saved from himself last season.

“Cowan was close to being sent to the Blues last season in a package with defence prospect Ben Danford to bring back Brayden Schenn, who the Leafs desperately wanted to go head to head with Panthers bruiser Sam Bennett in the playoffs. But word is it was St. Louis GM Doug Armstrong who was reluctant to pull the trigger.”

A Bullet Dodged: The Brayden Schenn Proposal

Last season, with the Maple Leafs poised to capture the Atlantic Division, the front office identified veteran forward Brayden Schenn as their primary target. Kypreos shared that the Leafs viewed Schenn as the perfect counter-punch to Sam Bennett and the Florida Panthers’ physical style. The valuation was incredibly high: Treliving was reportedly willing to package both Easton Cowan and Ben Danford, two of the organization’s top prospects, to get the deal across the line.

Fortunately for the Maple Leafs, St. Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong declined the offer, opting to retain his captain. This rejection may have inadvertently saved the Leafs’ future pipeline.

Does Treliving Need to Be Saved from Himself?

The collapsed Schenn deal begs a critical question: Do the Maple Leafs need to save Brad Treliving from himself?

If Treliving was desperate enough last season to offer a package including the OHL MVP in Easton Cowan for a veteran forward, what might he be willing to do now if he feels his job is on the line?

The Leafs currently have a depleted prospect pipeline, and their next three first-round picks are already spoken for in conditional deals or swaps. The organization is walking a tightrope: they must find a way to compete in the playoffs without making a panic move that slams the championship window shut for the long term. Unfortunately, this is a precarious position that Brad Treliving has almost exclusively put the franchise in.

The real question now, is Brad Treliving the right person to manage this situation?

Personally, I still believe in Treliving. However, as the Toronto market has proven, a desperate General Manager fighting to save his job is a massive organizational risk. With no formal checks and balances in place, the cost of a panicked move could have long-reaching consequences. If I were Keith Pelley, I would trust Treliving to manage the deadline, but only with strict marching orders: clear restrictions on current assets, a defined list of untouchables, and the final say resting entirely with the CEO.