The Toronto Maple Leafs are ready to accept an inevitable outcome of this season’s awful showing. The team is entering the Olympic roster freeze and eventual trade deadline in a different territory than in recent years.
During the January 31 edition of Saturday Headlines, insider Elliotte Friedman dropped a truth bomb, making it clear the Maple Leafs are ready to sell.
While the news isn’t really Earth-shattering, the admission does make waves on its own. The fact that the Maple Leafs have come to grips with reality makes it evident that management has accepted this year’s fate.
That fate, of course, is a playoff miss. The Leafs are 10 points out of a postseason spot with about 25 games to go. Yes, it’s mathematically possible to make a miraculous turnaround. But the math isn’t on the Maple Leafs’ side.
As such, the path forward is to sell off at the deadline. Friedman noted that, at the moment, the chatter is on moves everyone expects. Reading between the lines, the comment suggests the Maple Leafs could be looking to move names rumored throughout the season.
Friedman also underscored that there are no major moves in the works. That situation could change. But for the time being, there isn’t anything major in the pipeline.
Maple Leafs Likely Active after Olympics
The Olympic roster freeze is set to hit next Wednesday. Unless the Maple Leafs have a deal in the works already, it’s tough to envision something happening before then. In that event, the Olympics could give GM Brad Treliving an opportunity to see which players could draw interest.
The likeliest return would be futures for impending UFAs and other roster players. The Leafs could be eyeing draft picks and prospects in eventual deals.
However, fans should be realistic about what the Maple Leafs could fetch for bottom-six players like Calle Jarnkrok or even Scott Laughton. Meanwhile, blueliners like Troy Stecher, Simon Benoit, or Brandon Carlo may not bring in a significant haul, either.
There’s always the possibility, nonetheless, that a team desperate enough to overpay may give the Maple Leafs more than they bargained for. It might just be a question of timing.
McMann Could Become Leafs’ Most Valuable Chip
One of the players who could become one of the most valuable chips for the Maple Leafs is Bobby McMann. McMann is also on track to become a UFA this summer. That situation could make him a trade candidate.
According to chatter, McMann has drawn interest from West Coast contenders. If the Maple Leafs were keen to trade McMann, a trade could prove beneficial. While McMann may not fetch a first-round draft pick, he could bring in multiple pieces. For instance, a couple of mid-round picks and a mid-tier prospect wouldn’t be out of the question.
Similarly, other pieces like Nick Robertson or Mattias Maccelli could bring in a couple of useful pieces. All eyes, nevertheless, will be on McMann. If the price is right, the Maple Leafs would surely entertain offers for the 29-year-old winger.
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