Photo credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
According to TSN’s Chris Johnston, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ three-game win streak may not matter in the end as the team is still heavily favoured to be sellers.
Although the Maple Leafs started off with a loss on their four-game road trip, they came into Western Canada and decided to run the gamut by defeating Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton ahead of the Olympic break.
Toronto’s winning streak won’t alter deadline plans
Though they definitely have a chance to do something miraculous, that’s exactly why it really doesn’t matter that they’ve won three in a row — at least according to one analyst.
They’re not ready to throw in the towel on the season. They believe that they actually found a little bit of their mojo on that trip through Western Canada.
But from the Brad Treliving side of things [and] the Leafs front office, they have started garnering and gauging what their players are worth on the market.
And I don’t expect a three-game winning streak and even perhaps if it extends beyond the break where the Leafs win a couple games out of the break, don’t believe that’s going to material or alter what this front office wants to do.
You’ve heard the names – pending UFAs like a Bobby McMann who played well in Edmonton and has been tied to rumours with the Edmonton Oilers potentially having interest there.
Scott Laughton is a pending UFA. Simon Benoit, perhaps a Brandon Carlo or Oliver Ekman-Larsson. I mean, all these names, I think the Leafs are going to get a good sense over the break in terms of what the value is for them on the market…I do still think you’re going to see the Leafs sell to some degree.
That’s certainly an interesting caveat to the situation because even if Toronto feels confident they can make the playoffs, they may feel like they won’t be able to stick around and making a run without selling high where they can is likely going to backfire.
Toronto needs to sell high even with the playoffs in reach
Say the Maple Leafs do make the playoffs with the roster they have, heck they may even buy low on a player like Luke Schenn to give them some more insurance.
Then what? You’re facing competition you’re not ready for. Boston, Tampa Bay, Montreal, Detroit; and that’s just the Atlantic. You don’t have Florida, but you have Carolina, Pittsburgh, and the New York Islanders to deal with.
Can Toronto beat these teams and make it to the Finals? Absolutely, but they can also get stomped into the ground if they aren’t healthy enough and don’t get contributions when needed.
Case in point, Bobby McMann. He’s been on a massive hot streak, and it feels a lot like last season, which is great. What isn’t however, is the fact that he went goalless in his last 13 games and was non-existent in the playoffs.
If Toronto gets that type of performance, not only will it hurt their chances of success, but also their chance of getting anything for McMann and his production.
And yet again, it would be a disappointing end to the season and even worse is that the team will have next to no assets, and no real direction going forward.
If they don’t make the right call and sell where they can, then Brad Treliving and company are likely going to be looking for employment elsewhere.
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