Photo credit: Rogers Sportsnet
With the trade deadline only a few weeks away, the Maple Leafs’ game plan is starting to come into view with one analyst believing they should sell regardless.
Although the Toronto Maple Leafs headed into the Olympic break on a three-game winning streak, there was still conversation about whether or not they should retool and sell high on their assets.
If they do decide to sell they have several players who could pull in first-round pick but at the very least they would walk away with multiple solid-to-great picks and maybe a couple prospects too.
Toronto should still look to sell off some assets despite playoff push: Insider
But their three-game winning streak may have thrown a wrench into things and with the team looking to make a playoff push, there is still time to be buyers and find a way to sneak in.
However for James Mirtle, he believes that there is no reason to buy considering the odds aren’t in their favor.
Speaking on the JD Bunkis podcast, Mirtle explained that the Maple Leafs should still be sellers at least partially, because once the playoffs hit (if they make it) they may be unprepared:
If they keep winning games, it’s going to change the degree to which they’re willing to sell.
I think McMann, move on no brainer but if they come out; there’s six games before the deadline. Tampa, Florida, Ottawa, Philly, New Jersey and the Rangers.
I think they can easily go 4-1-1 in those and you squint and now you’re only three points out. But then there’s such a big pack of teams to compete with and you have 20% to make it, then what are your odds?
You’re betting on a no hope plan if you don’t do a retool. Move off some pieces you don’t think are going to be part of the solution next year.
What those pieces are weren’t exactly specified however with the noise surrounding certain players we can deduce who might be involved.
Who could be on the trade block for the Maple Leafs in 2026?
Bobby McMann is no doubt the number one asset the Maple Leafs could deal, and with a combination of a future pay raise, his age, and relative late-career breakout are all arguments about trading him.
A 20-goal scorer with breakneck speed and physicality at under $1.5-million is a unicorn nowadays and teams would pay a pretty penny for a chance at McMann.
Then you hit the role players like Nicolas Roy and Scott Laughton who would add a degree of toughness, defense and veteran leadership to a contender and allow new faces to come in to replace them.
Then shifting to defense, you have Oliver Ekman-Larsson who is having a career resurgence and a strong Olympic tournament could raise his stock even higher than it already is.
Though they should at least make some moves because they can’t afford to walk away completely empty-handed.
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