The landscape surrounding the Toronto Maple Leafs has shifted dramatically in recent weeks, forcing general manager Brad Treliving into a position of critical evaluation as the National Hockey League's March 6 trade deadline looms. What began as speculation about potential acquisitions has transformed into a sober assessment of the team's direction amid a disappointing season.
A Season Unraveling
Just weeks ago, media and fans buzzed with possibilities about which players Treliving might add to bolster the Maple Leafs' lineup. Names like Dougie Hamilton, Luke Schenn, Jordan Kyrou, and Connor Murphy circulated as potential targets. However, the team's performance has forced a complete reevaluation of priorities.
The Maple Leafs enter their final four games before the Olympic break having suffered through a disastrous five-game homestand where they managed only a single point with an 0-4-1 record. Their most recent outing, a 7-4 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night, highlighted the growing gap between Toronto and more organized opponents.
Defensive Deficiencies Exposed
Coach Craig Berube has expressed clear frustration with the team's defensive shortcomings, and the statistics support his concerns. The Maple Leafs have allowed 132 goals at five-on-five this season, the highest total in the entire NHL. Goaltending has been inconsistent at best, and there appears to be no quick fix for these systemic issues.
"In their final 29 games, the Leafs aren't suddenly going to figure out how to keep the puck out of their net," observes hockey analyst Terry Koshan. "There's no switch to be flipped." With Toronto now eight points out of an Eastern Conference playoff spot, the notion of adding pieces for a postseason push seems increasingly unrealistic.
Trade Deadline Strategy
The pressing question facing Treliving is whether to become sellers at the deadline rather than buyers. The general manager should not be considering adding players through trade unless those acquisitions come as part of deals that send significant Maple Leafs assets the other way.
There's absolutely no justification for Treliving to leverage what few valuable assets the organization possesses, whether that's promising forward Easton Cowan or defenceman Ben Danford. The focus must shift toward recouping assets—whether prospects or draft picks—to rebuild for future seasons.
Potential Trade Candidates
Among impending unrestricted free agents, winger Bobby McMann represents the most valuable trade chip. While there's merit to attempting to re-sign the Wainwright, Alberta native, if a contender like the Edmonton Oilers offers meaningful assets, Treliving should seriously consider making a deal.
The same logic applies to other potential UFAs including forwards Scott Laughton and Calle Jarnkrok, along with defenceman Troy Stecher. Treliving must at minimum gauge interest in all these players as the deadline approaches.
For players under contract beyond this season, defencemen Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Brandon Carlo could help replenish a draft cupboard that currently lacks first- or second-round picks this year and no first-round selection next year. Both have limited no-trade protections that would need to be navigated.
Long-Term Considerations
While selling assets makes logical sense, Treliving cannot enter full-scale demolition mode. Asking core players like William Nylander (six years remaining) or Morgan Rielly (four years remaining) to waive their no-movement clauses represents a bridge too far at this juncture. Such decisions are better addressed during the offseason, particularly if the Maple Leafs miss the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
Captain Auston Matthews presents another complex situation with two years remaining before his contract expires in 2028. Not every element of the roster can or should be dismantled, requiring Treliving to balance present realities with future competitiveness.
A Changed Reality
The Maple Leafs' brief resurgence in mid-January, when they climbed back into a wild-card spot after an overtime victory in Colorado, now feels like distant history. That promising position lasted mere days before losses began accumulating with the intensity of a southwestern Ontario winter storm.
Times have indeed changed for the storied franchise. Between now and March 6, Treliving's primary responsibility involves restoring some measure of hope for the future—not the immediate days following the regular season's conclusion on April 15, but the seasons that will follow. The decisions made in the coming weeks will shape the Maple Leafs' trajectory for years to come.
