Sleepless in Seattle: A listless performance vs. Kraken should accelerate Leafs’ attempt to rebuild

If you didn’t stay up late to watch the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 5-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken, you made the correct choice. Don’t let the box score fool you, this was a listless performance by the Maple Leafs, defined by a complete lack of urgency. If they’re not checking the standings now, there may be no point in starting now, as there’s virtually no chance of making the playoffs. And if it wasn’t already apparent, the Maple Leafs need to start rebuilding, or at the very least, start retooling. It would be beyond the pale to surrender assets in order to fix this year’s roster.There was no sense of urgency, although in retrospect, that’s not altogether surprising, given the collective apathy displayed during the five-game home stand in which they lost every game. Anthony Stolarz allowed a goal on the first shot of the game, as Matty Beniers ripped a shot home without any resistance. Morgan Rielly, who has been on the ice for an NHL-worst 61 goals against at 5-on-5, afforded Jared McCann way too much space off the rush, who found Beniers rather easily. Brandon Carlo didn’t close the gap, while neither John Tavares, Matias Maccelli or Matthew Knies tracked back in time.

Maccelli later committed a dreadful turnover that directly led to the second of Shane Wright’s two goals on the evening in the third period, and head coach Craig Berube was incensed on the bench. Maccelli-Tavares-Knies were on the ice for three goals against and were the worst line on another terrible evening for the Maple Leafs, although there are few players exempt from criticism. Wright could be an attractive trade candidate for the Maple Leafs and for one night, his confidence was seemingly restored, living up to his draft billing.

Nick Robertson is perhaps the lone player exempt from critique, registering a goal, drawing a penalty, and playing with all-out tenacity for a team seemingly lacking the extra willpower to get out of a season-defining slump. Robertson is one of the few under-25 roster players the Maple Leafs have, but he’s also on an expiring, team-friendly contract that makes him an attractive trade candidate. There ought to be a market for a 24-year-old with a cannon of a shot, who plays with all-out aggressiveness, and has perhaps been miscast at times during his tenure with the club.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson will have real trade value as well, and the Maple Leafs would be wise to find a trade partner that could certainly benefit from the 34-year-old’s resurgent form. Ekman-Larsson has been the Maple Leafs’ best defenceman all year, and by all accounts enjoys playing in Toronto, but at this point, he has far more value to a contending team than a rapidly descending club in flux. Toronto heavily controlled the shot attempts when Ekman-Larsson was on the ice, which is perhaps unhelpful in the context of a single game, but it does speak to the idea that he could perhaps return a first-round pick ahead of the deadline.

We’re nearing the end of January, with 28 games remaining, and the Maple Leafs are 10 points out of a playoff spot. The season, for all intents and purposes is over, and has been over since Tuesday’s 7-4 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. Our friends at Daily Faceoff listed nine Leafs roster players as potential trade assets, and if general manager Brad Treliving can find a market, there should be an aggressive attempt to retool. There’s little left to preserve here. The Leafs Nation will have you covered every step of the way. We hope you got a good night’s rest.

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