Leafs GM Brad Treliving Reveals His Ideal Trade Target For This Season
Brad Treliving knows he needs to make a trade, and while a lot of Maple Leafs fans want more offense, Treliving is taking a different approach.
If you were to ask the Toronto Maple Leafs fans, they would be the first to tell you the team needs more offense.
The bottom six hasn't produced at all, and it's concerning as Toronto can't rely solely on the same two or three scorers.
If you were to ask GM Brad Treliving however, he would give you an answer that will shock you: It has nothing to do with offense.
Treliving wants to focus on adding more defense and lives by the old adage that defense wins championships, but who are some names that could fulfill his need for adding some extra protection to his forward corps?
Target 1: Noel Acciari - Pittsburgh Penguins
If Treliving wants to add no-nonsense defense to his forward group, he should take a long look at Pittsburgh's Noel Acciari.
The former Maple Leaf is a stout defender who wins faceoffs, kills penalties, plays aggressive, and isn't afraid to drop the gloves either.
The veteran centerman is someone who can instantly make an impact defensively for the Maple Leafs.
His team gets better when he's on the ice, and when it comes to close games he's second to none when it comes to possession.
For as much as Treliving doesn't focus on offense, Acciari can still score a bit and does have a 20-goal season to his name back in 2019-20 with Florida.
Although he's struggled a little the past two seasons defensively, Acciari is still impactful thanks to his deeper analytics, such as his Corsi and xGF %.
He doesn't make mistakes with the puck and is also very disciplined which would help level out Toronto's high penalty rate and perhaps give them a better idea of how to make fewer mistakes on that front.
If Treliving wanted to limit his opponent's chances, Acciari is a great option to throw out there and disrupt the opposition. He's a cheap option at $2M and would add exactly what Treliving needs for the team to be successful.
Target 2: Scott Laughton - Philadelphia Flyers
If Brad Treliving wanted to go with a bit of a younger player who can still make just as much of an impact as Acciari, then Scott Laughton is the perfect name to target.
Only 30, Laughton has been one of the league's better defensive forwards over the last few seasons.
He's been the NHL's best short-handed player the last two seasons, and his full 200-foot game has been a staple to much of Philadelphia's successes.
But you have to be able to check. If you can't check you can't score your way out of problems. It just doesn't work. And our guys are embracing that.»
He scores more than Acciari, but offers the same amount of defensive acumen with a lot of versatility depending how Craig Berube wants to use him.
He can score when Toronto needs him to, but provides that checking and defense that keeps opponents off the scoreboard.
He can play center or wing, he can play shorthanded, and he can play a grittier fourth-line role that focuses on toughness.
Laughton also averages 159 hits per season, so that added aggressiveness that Treliving wants is there as well. He struggled last season, but a restart in Toronto could be exactly what he needs.
Laughton is a bit more expensive at $3M, and while he offers the better offensive potential of the two, his struggles last season may lead Treliving to look at other options first.
FAQ: Brad Treliving Names Ideal Trade Target
Q1: What does Brad Treliving want from a trade?
A1: Brad Treliving wants to add to the Maple Leafs' defense and checking when it comes to their forwards. He isn't too concerned about the offense right now, and would rather focus on adding to his strengths than addressing his weaknesses.
Q2: What are some names Brad Treliving could target
A2: Two names that come to mind are Noel Acciari and Scott Laughton. Both players are on struggling teams and offer Treliving the defense and checking he desires. Both players are good on the faceoff, and penalty kill, and aren't afraid to throw hits. Laughton offers more scoring, and Acciari offers a bit more consistent defense and grit and neither man is an expensive option.
In closing, Brad Treliving wants to add to his team but does it by adding defense and checking as opposed to offense. He has two names to pursue in Noel Acciari and Scott Laughton, it all depends on who he believes is best for the team in the long run.
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