Maple Leafs’ Chris Tanev bet draws new criticism of Brad Treliving’s roster plan
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Brad Treliving’s big bet on Chris Tanev has drawn a lot of criticism from analyst Dan Riccio on the latest episode of the Off The Roster podcast, with him admitting maybe Treliving isn’t the right person to lead Toronto.
Sure there’s still time to turn it around but it seriously depends on if the team makes a couple moves to sell high on their assets and get what they can, and the playoffs are going to be a disaster even if they end up making it.
Chris Tanev’s acquisition drawing criticism — but not for his performance
He’s made some solid moves though including bringing in Chris Tanev, but with him being on the shelf for most of the year, his gamble didn’t pay out; and it’s caused a lot of friction.
On the Off The Roster podcast, co-host Dan Riccio was blunt in his assessment of Treliving’s tenure, and pointed to him betting so much on Tanev as a key factor in their failure:
I’m out on calling out the players because yes, you can point and say yeah this guy is underperforming or not hitting expectations, and those can be true but it comes down to the guy who put the pieces in place. A guy who has done literally nothing with the team this year!
To rest on your laurels with Chris Tanev, a 36-year old oft-injured defender, that’s a you problem Brad. You put all this success and hope in this defense on Chris Tanev. That’s unfair to him and it’s on you.
Brad Treliving’s track record doesn’t bode well for Maple Leafs
But Riccio wasn’t done there, going deeper into Treliving’s history and how the team is wasting Auston Matthews’ limited time here, and even took time to give Kyle Dubas his flowers:
If you look at how Calgary was with Treliving in charge, he guided them into this rebuild and now he’s guiding the Maple Leafs into an abomination of a rebuild towards the end of the Auston Matthews era.
They have a difficult road ahead and I don’t have confidence Brad Treliving is gonna be the guy to get the Leafs back to contention in the final two years of Matthews’ current contract. You gotta look at everything if you’re the Maple Leafs.
A lot of people didn’t love Kyle Dubas but be careful what you wish for, because his replacement has done a much worse job at managing the Maple Leafs.
Taking a look at what Treliving has done since coming in, it doesn’t really give fans a lot of hope for the future.
Ryan Reaves was a bad deal, Max Domi’s extension was insane based off one season, Fraser Minten would have looked great in blue and white but he was dealt (with a first-round pick) for Brandon Carlo — a player who also might be traded again this year.
He hasn’t made a single deal since the Dakota Joshua trade in July and with several chances to bring in pieces that could help, being so picky and waiting for a perfect deal is just costing them time and a chance to get decent assets.
Playing the waiting game is great considering how desperate some teams may be, but with the Maple Leafs in a desperate time of their own, maybe it’s time to get a move on before it’s too late.
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Maple Leafs’ Chris Tanev bet draws new criticism of Brad Treliving’s roster plan
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