Leafs GM Brad Treliving Loses Trade Partner Ahead of the Deadline
The Toronto Maple Leafs are down yet another potential trade partner as news coming out of Columbus reveals the Blue Jackets are buyers ahead of the deadline.
With the trade deadline just under a month away, the Maple Leafs need to ensure they shore up their roster with some insurance whether it be in the form of a third line center, or defensive help for Morgan Rielly.
They have no shortage of potential candidates and have been linked to names like Erik Karlsson and Brayden Schenn. But one team they won't have as a partner is the Columbus Blue Jackets as GM Don Waddell revealed on Columbus radio that he intends to make a push this season.
So where does that leave the Toronto Maple Leafs?
Blue Jackets Are Buyers Leaving Brad Treliving Looking Elsewhere
Columbus is currently only two points out of the first wild card spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and if Waddell feels confident enough in his team to win, he's not risking a potential underdog run.
Injuries are also a big concern for the team, and with Kirill Marchenko out for the next few weeks Columbus needs to add if they want to keep their playoff push alive.
They've added Dante Fabbro and Zach Aston-Reese off waivers, added Daemon Hunt while trading away David Jiricek, and the team has been linked to former forward Oliver Bjorkstrand; so the team is definitely looking to bring in assets.
Which is unfortunate news for Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving. he team was linked to veteran center Sean Kuraly in recent weeks, and he could have been a solid pickup for the Leafs but that seems extremely unlikely now.
Toronto could have even benefitted from adding former fan favorite James van Riemsdyk to help create an even deeper and deadly lineup, at least in terms of the top six and he wouldn't be an expensive option either (another caveat in the whole trade situation).
So it's back to the drawing board for Brad Treliving. The team needs to shift gears and focus on teams they know they can draw from such as the Seattle Kraken or Chicago Blackhawks who have the assets needed, at a fairly reasonable price.
Will the Maple Leafs end up making a rash decision and rush to make a trade, or will they sit back and wait to pounce? Only time will tell...but time is running out.
