Brad Treliving & The Toronto Maple Leafs Reportedly Have a Three-Team Trade in Mind
Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving wants to get something at the trade deadline but it might just take a total of three teams to get it done.
Brad Treliving understands that his Maple Leafs are in need of an injection of offense and that means procuring a center and a defenseman for insurance on the blue line.
However, making these kinds of trades is not easy, especially when you are coming up very close on the salary cap and need some kind of relief to fit more players on the roster.
Toronto Maple Leafs trade deadline plans
If you have been paying attention to the news cycle, then you would know that the Leafs have a ton of centers in mind, including Brayden Schenn, Scott Laughton, Yanni Gourde, and even Brock Nelson.
However, the Toronto Maple Leafs are also interested in some other guys like Nick Bjugstad and Jake Evans, even though they might not be nearly as productive.
Interestingly enough, a new report from The Athletic suggests that the Leafs are attempting to make a three-team trade. Why? Because then they can have someone else retain salary as a way to avoid any cap issues.
Meanwhile, GM Brad Treliving is also hoping to procure another depth defenseman who can play the right side.
A tight cap situation looms over every decision in Toronto, which is why Treliving is likely to seek salary retention from any seller and/or use another team as a third-party broker to make the money work.
Three-team trades have become the norm over the past couple of years especially with the lack of salary cap increases.
Of course, the cap is going up by $25 million over the course of the next three seasons, however, the Maple Leafs need to play by the rules prior to those changes kicking in.
Seeing as though the Leafs are buyers and contenders, it wouldn't be surprising if other teams try to play hardball. This would especially be true for those third teams who are taking on salary as a favor to Brad Treliving.
Simply put, the Maple Leafs should prepare to give up more draft capital than they probably want to.
