Latest Rumors, Deadline Talk and Strategy, Plus a Simon Benoit Contract?
With no games, there's lots of trade deadline talk
Welcome to the THW Toronto Maple Leafs Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our team of Maple Leafs writers.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are hosting the All-Star festivities, but there’s a lot more talk about this team than the players representing with the league’s elite. What new trade deadline strategies are the Leafs looking at and who could be on the move?
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Now on to the good stuff…
Maple Leafs News & Rumors: Matthews, Nylander, Robertson & Woll
February 1, 2024 by The Old Prof
In this edition of Toronto Maple Leafs News & rumors, I’ll take a look at the upcoming All-Star Game competition. Second, I’ll comment upon a surprising element of Nick Robertson’s game: his defense. Third, I’ll look at William Nylander’s assessment by other hockey analysts. Finally, I’ll share my belief that the Maple Leafs’ success during the postseason will hinge on how the goalie situation pans out. I simply don’t believe the team can afford to go all-in on a defenseman.
Maple Leafs’ 2024 Trade Deadline Strategy: No Move Is Best
February 1, 2024 by The Old Prof
After being one of the best regular-season teams in the NHL’s Eastern Conference for the past few years, the Toronto Maple Leafs find themselves in a battle for a wild-card spot this season. Â
As of the All-Star Break, they are in fourth in the Atlantic Division, a point behind the third-place Tampa Bay Lightning, who have 59 points, and tied with the Detroit Red Wings at 58 points. Toronto is ahead of both in winning percentage and has three games in hand.
That said, games in hand do not always translate to points on the board, especially given the up-and-down season the Maple Leafs are having.
Ranking the Maple Leafs’ Best Assets for the 2024 Trade Deadline
February 1, 2024 by Ben Fisher
It remains to be seen what direction the Maple Leafs front office opts to pursue in advance of March 8, but any discussion about trade targets for Toronto has to include some consideration of what or who might be going the other way. With that in mind, here is a ranking of the organization’s top trade assets that they could plausibly part with in the coming month-plus:
Maple Leafs Should Capitalize on David Jiricek’s Unhappiness
February 1, 2024 by Peter Baracchini
As the Toronto Maple Leafs head into the All-Star break after two back-to-back wins against the Winnipeg Jets, they are now sitting in the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. The team has also played fewer games than any of the other teams in the postseason, which bodes well for them going forward.
In this post, I’ll review the top five scorers on the team heading into the All-Star break.
More Maple Leafs Must Reads
Maple Leafs’ Simon Benoit Worth Long-Term Contract Risk
January 31, 2024 by The Old Prof
3 Trade Destinations for Maple Leafs’ Ilya Samsonov
January 31, 2024 by Spencer Lazary