Maple Leafs Keep Looking for Defense, Plus Other Trade Chatter
What's the latest heading into the deadline and the bigger team picture?
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The Toronto Maple Leafs are in an interesting spot, not clearly buyers or sellers. What are they looking for, what trades were options, and what should their approach be?
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Friedman Says Maple Leafs Continuing to Search for Defence Help
January 22, 2024 by Spencer Lazary
It’s Monday, which can only mean one thing: NHL insider Elliotte Friedman and his co-host Jeff Marek released a new episode of their 32 Thoughts Podcast. In this edition, Friedman discussed the Toronto Maple Leafs.
He said, “What I really do believe is that I think they continue to look for defence in every direction.” He also stated that he believes that the Maple Leafs have recognized that it is not their year, which means they could be planning for the future: “Ever since [Brad] Treliving took over, one of the things that the brain trust of this team has been doing is figuring out what their defence is going to look like for years to come.”
Shanahan Was Right to Veto Maple Leafs’ Fleury Trade
January 22, 2024 by Jesse Courville-Lynch
A story came out recently from John Shannon on the Bob McCown Podcast in which he references a failed 2022 trade between the Maple Leafs and Blackhawks which would have sent legendary goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury to the Maple Leafs in exchange for Mrazek, Matthew Knies, and multiple first-round picks. In the podcast, he mentions that while the deal could have had some steam, it was vetoed by Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan. As Darren Dreger had stated in his tweet, the deal never got to a stage where Fleury was asked to waive his no-trade clause.
3 Maple Leafs’ Trade Targets From Kings-Rangers Game
January 22, 2024 by Andrew Forbes
It’s nearly a month into the new calendar year and the NHL Trade Deadline seems to be creeping closer — and quickly. At this point in the season, most teams are looking to solidify what they have on their roster for their final playoff push.
Recently, Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe was quoted saying that even after 42 games this season he wasn’t sure who he could trust within his lineup — not words you want to hear this late into a season from a team that should be a competitor.
It’s Good News if the Maple Leafs Stand Firm at Trade Deadline
January 21, 2024 by The Old Prof
According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, the Toronto Maple Leafs are considering the team’s current makeup. Despite being anticipated buyers leading up to the NHL Trade Deadline (as they always seem to be) and in the playoff conversation, Friedman believes that doubts have emerged about the team’s willingness to go all-in for a Stanley Cup run.
For the veteran NHL insider, the Nylander signing represented the decision to shape the team’s long-term strategy differently. Now that he’s signed a long-term contract, the organization has made its bed for the future. The immediate implication is that Friedman believes the Maple Leafs will focus on rebuilding its roster around skaters Nylander, Auston Matthews, and Morgan Rielly. In other words, if they are not good enough this season to win it, they’ll look beyond the current season and engage a more strategic, future-thinking approach.
So Marner is no longer part of the plan? Big mistake. Leafs, a Canadian NHL team are looking for defence not defense.