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A new report states the Toronto Maple Leafs may wait until the very end in order to get a trade done, which may leave them with less time than expected.
The Toronto Maple Leafs trade plans may keep them from pulling the trigger on a deal until the very end, according to a new report.
According to Darren Dreger of TSN, the Toronto Maple Leafs may not make a deal until the NHL’s trade deadline on March 6th, with the team not having yet decided on their season outlook.
Dreger reports that the belief is the Leafs ownership, Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment, may not want to see Toronto make a deal while the team is still in contention in a playoff spot.
Toronto sits six points back from the final wild card spot, having 63 points on the season with a 27-21-9 record, but having won their last three games before the Olympic break.
Leafs still stuck in limbo amid playoff uncertainty
The Toronto Maple Leafs may wait until the very end to potentially make a deal depending on where they end up in the playoff hunt.
If Toronto gets back into the playoff race by the deadline on March 6th, the Leafs may finalize their plans to buy, but a continued slide would begin the sell-off process.
But if the Leafs remain in a scenario down the middle, still in contention territory but just outside, it may lead to some difficult choices for Toronto.
The Leafs being in a playoff purgatory could have the team buying, but also selling depending on the prices that exist on the market.
Players such as Bobby Mcann could net a first round pick, and would make even a buying team such as Toronto consider the value of such a return.
That brings the uncertainty of the Leafs to having to wait until the very end, as was the case last year where Toronto waited until deadline day to make a move, although they were contenders at the time. Regardless of where they are, deadline day may be where Toronto makes their move either way.
If Leafs fans were hoping the team would come out of the break ready and set on their plans for the season, they’ll have to wait just a bit longer for which path Toronto takes.
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