Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving Confronts Team's Challenging Season
In a candid interview on TSN 1050's OverDrive, Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving addressed the mounting pressures surrounding the struggling franchise. With the team's playoff hopes dimming and the NHL trade deadline looming on March 6, Treliving offered insights into the organization's current mindset and future direction.
A Season Spinning Out of Control
The Maple Leafs find themselves in unfamiliar territory, sitting eight points out of a playoff position as of late January 2026. Treliving acknowledged the team's disappointing performance, particularly highlighting a disastrous five-game home stand where the Leafs went 0-4-1.
"We're certainly not in a position that we want to be in," Treliving admitted during the interview. "Completely disappointed. We had fits and starts throughout the home stand, but just not the consistency level that we needed."
The general manager pointed to early season struggles as compounding current problems. "When you put yourself behind the eight-ball in a real competitive division, in a real competitive conference, you've shortened your window for having rough stretches," he explained.
Trade Deadline Dilemma
With only 10 games remaining before the March 6 trade deadline, Treliving faces critical decisions about the team's direction. While he didn't explicitly state whether the Leafs would be buyers or sellers, he acknowledged the changing circumstances.
"We're in a different position than we've been in the past," Treliving noted, referencing previous seasons where the team aggressively acquired assets at the deadline. "You're planning based upon where your team is sitting and what you think is in front of you."
The general manager emphasized the need for careful evaluation, stating that the organization must "continue to watch, evaluate and make the necessary decisions" as the deadline approaches.
Defending Organizational Resources
Treliving strongly pushed back against recent reporting suggesting the Maple Leafs had reduced their investment in sports science and player performance staff. Following the departure of director of high performance Rich Rotenberg and sports scientist Sachin Raina last summer, questions had emerged about the team's commitment to player care.
"The insinuation that we've cut back in any way, shape or form, in terms of the medical, the performance, or any of the care of our players, is simply incorrect," Treliving asserted. "It's wrong."
The general manager detailed organizational changes, noting that Trevor Bartoli had been promoted to performance coordinator and that the team had actually increased its investment in player performance resources.
"It's increased since I've been here," Treliving said of the performance budget. "The actual expenditure in terms of what we put into player performance, the individuals, the staff size, has increased. Our goal is to be as on the cutting edge of whatever new and innovative technology is out there."
Injury Management and Schedule Challenges
Treliving addressed injury concerns that have plagued the team this season, with only centre John Tavares and defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson playing in all 53 games prior to Thursday's matchup. He attributed increased injuries across the league to a condensed schedule rather than organizational shortcomings.
"From October 1 to January 28, from last year to this year, league-wide, it's almost exactly 100 more players that have been placed on injured reserve this year than last year," Treliving explained. "It's more of a result of a condensed schedule. It has nothing to do with medical attention."
Looking Ahead
As the Maple Leafs prepare for their final games before the Olympic break and trade deadline, Treliving emphasized focusing on immediate challenges while maintaining confidence in the team's core players.
"We've got some really good players and I believe in our players," the general manager stated, though he stopped short of making "profound statements" about the team's Stanley Cup window.
With the season at a critical juncture, Treliving's decisions in the coming weeks will significantly impact the Maple Leafs' direction for the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign and beyond.
