Insider Hints at Bold Trade Deadline Moves for the Maple Leafs: Brad Treliving's Game Plan Revealed
One NHL Insider has given his thoughts on how Brad Treliving and the Maple Leafs will tackle the trade deadline as it quickly approaches.
With a lot of talk surrounding how the Toronto Maple Leafs are going to utilize their limited assets in order to make a big splash at the trade deadline. Do they go the cheap route, or perhaps bundle a big package together for that impact player? Either way, there are several options.There is certain criteria these players need to fit as well.
Preferably tall, heavy, gritty, and defensively sound, it leaves Toronto with a great number of options like Brock Nelson, but their price could be too high for the Leafs to justify.
But according to NHL Insider Chris Johnston, the team isn't looking to only make an impact, but they are going to be heavily aggressive as well:
They don't have their 1st round pick this year, so they don't have a full cupboard completely, but I do think they have enough in terms of picks and prospects to make some additions that can help them for the playoff run.»
So how can Brad Treliving maximize his return without giving up too much?
Brad Treliving's Game Plan Involves Gambling On The Future
Toronto has always been a team that looks externally for help, and have no issues trading away potential superstars in order to win now.
But over the years, Kyle Dubas tried to change the culture by adding a load of prospects such as Fraser Minten, Nikita Grebenkin, Joseph Woll, and Easton Cowan.
It's a great look for the future, however with Toronto things are never that easy.
Without a first-round selection, especially in a loaded 2025 Draft, it's going to be harder to persuade other GM's to bite on a deal without needing to give up one of their prospects.
Toronto does have a handful of picks in the later rounds and still holds their 2026 first. While it would be great to hold on to those, the tantalizing prospect of adding a big name to help now is too big for Treliving to pass up.
The window to win is as open as ever, but is just as quickly shut at season's end.
A Stanley Cup win might be the only thing that helps keep Mitch Marner around, so if they want to make sure they have the best chance at re-signing him, perhaps going all out now will be enough to convince him to stay.
Brad Treliving and the Maple Leafs are going to be big players at the trade deadline, and very well before then too.
A deal is going to get done, the only question is: How much of the future did Brad Treliving gamble with in order to hit a jackpot this season?
