Leafs GM Brad Treliving Takes First Step Towards Landing Primary Trade Target
While Toronto needs to make a trade, they don't want to get too hasty and end up overpaying for assets that don't fit, so Brad Treliving needs to be careful.
It's pretty well known that Brad Treliving wants to add defensive versatility mixed with some offensive potential and would allow Toronto to push further and further in the playoffs.
But he has to be careful not to overspend, and while the potential of adding a big name star is enticing, it would feel irresponsible for the Leafs to trade away a prospect like Easton Cowan.
So it's a good thing that the Maple Leafs GM is doing his due diligence to make sure he has all the information necessary to make the right move. According to an article written by 'The Fourth Period', Treliving isn't ready to make a move, at least not yet:
A move for a veteran at the dot is not considered imminent, but the Maple Leafs are doing their due diligence and scouring the market, compiling a list of potential targets later in the campaign."
Toronto Doesn't Need To Break The Bank
While it would be great for the Leafs to go out and grab a top name star like Nazem Kadri or Brock Nelson, it wouldn't be a great move for the future.
No doubt a premium price is going to be attached to either man and it would be hard to pry them away without a blockbuster package. Kadri has been on fire as of late with jaw-dropping highlight reel goals, meanwhile Nelson is in limbo with the Islanders and they won't sell unless faced with a complete collapse.
Toronto has much cheaper options they can go for, and adding a player like Trent Frederic or Juuso Parssinen for cheap would be a massive boost without sacrificing the future.
The team needs to move on from Nick Robertson, so potentially getting rid of him and bringing in a true defensively sound center who can bring stability and consistency to a revolving door of forwards, it will be better for Toronto long-term.
Brad Treliving is a savvy GM, and won't go about repeating history by trading away the farm, but in desperate times where fans are anxious for playoff success, he has to weigh his options correctly or face the consequences.
