Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs reportedly face two major hurdles that could keep them out of the trade market entirely.
Two seperate concerns spark potential worries for the Toronto Maple Leafs if their goal is to add on the trade block, with reports suggesting the team is being held back from making potential upgrades.
TSN insider Chris Johnston outlined the challenges facing the Leafs heading into the trade deadline, and why Toronto may be limited in being able to acquire any key roster players.
Johnston reports that the Leafs lack of top prospects or draft picks makes thing a problem for GM Brad Treliving to gain a quality player, indicating a potential heated market that could see some costly asks for available NHLers.
The Leafs lack first round picks for the next two years, and with the promotion of Easton Cowan to the NHL, the remaining prospects of value for Toronto include a defensive defenseman in Ben Danford and a raw prospect outside of North America in Tinus Luc Koblar, players lacking in a high floor or NHL readiness.
Toronto Maple Leafs struggling to find the right roster add
Another report indicates a more up-front matter for the Leafs to make. A report from TSN’s Darren Dreger outlines that Brad Treliving is trying to find the right add on defense, but a perfect fit hasn’t emerged.
Dreger reports that Treliving wants to add a defenseman via a trade, but the right suitor hasn’t proven to be found, and a player that moves things forward for Toronto isn’t a player he’s seen, or else it would have happened.
Having lost their last five games, there is little doubt as the Olympics break nears that a turnaround is necessary before the Leafs start to feel panic, but all indications are that the Leafs, regardless of how things go, are trying to avoid going into desperation mode.
Toronto could still be in line to add a potential depth defenseman who isn’t a top name, but the indications are that the focus for Treliving is on a more impactful option.
The Leafs defense has been hampered by injuries, making ita necessary add, but the lack of a defenseman that Brad Treliving feels is lacking on Toronto’s star, matched with a lack of valuable assets to gain a top trade target, makes for a murky situation for the Leafs as potential buyers with upgrades knowingly needed.
Previously on Hockey Patrol
POLL
1 HOUR AGO|117 ANSWERS
Two roadblocks are quietly threatening the Maple Leafs’ ability to make a trade
Can the Leafs still make the playoffs without making a major trade?