Insider Darren Dreger Shuts Down Trade Option for the Toronto Maple Leafs
NHL Insider Darren Dreger revealed a potential trade option for the Maple Leafs is going to be taken off the market due to a looming extension.
With the trade deadline just over a week away, the Toronto Maple Leafs are gearing up to make one or several moves in order to fill some pretty glaring holes in their lineup as they make their stand for not only Atlantic Division supremacy but a strong Stanley Cup run.
But with the all the names being tossed around, one potential smaller target was Columbus' Mathieu Olivier.
The bruising winger would have added some scoring and a lot of toughness to the lineup and would be great on the team's third or fourth lines.
However, it seems that nobody is going to be able to get him this year. According to NHL Insider Darren Dreger, the Blue Jackets are looking to extend Olivier and view him as a crucial part of their team going forward.
It's a bit of a blow to the Maple Leafs as the team tries to figure out whether to go all in or to take things a little safer this deadline.
But with Olivier gone, where could the team shift to?
Plenty Of Cheap Options Remain For Maple Leafs At Trade Deadline
If Brad Treliving still wanted to save some money and more importantly some key assets, there are still several names the team can go after even though losing out on Olivier hurts.
Shifting gears, the team can go after names like Trent Frederic, although he has concerns about his injury status heading into the rest of the season.
The team can also look at Jake Evans from Montreal, Jean-Gabriel Pageau from the Islanders, or Ryan Donato from the Chicago Blackhawks.
They are all safe and reliable bottom-six performers who can give Toronto the additional defense needed up front while adding some secondary scoring.
The goal with this trade deadline is to get better, and better doesn't necessarily mean spending a ton of assets for a player like Brayden Schenn. Toronto succeeded previously pulling off a trade for Ryan O'Reilly but added Noel Acciari too; a player with a skillset they desperately need.
Brad Treliving has a lot of work to do in the next week to get not only the best pieces possible, but the right fit for the roster.
It's a shame he's unable to swing a deal for Olivier, but with so much at stake perhaps he's got his mind set on something much, much bigger.
