Elliotte Friedman Hits the Toronto Maple Leafs with a Harsh Reality Ahead of the Trade Deadline
The Toronto Maple Leafs are in need of adding a center to help their depth, but according to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, that task is more complicated than expected.
With the trade deadline approaching, Brad Treliving is facing significant pressure to make the necessary moves to keep Toronto competitive.
What does the Toronto Maple Leafs have to offer in a trade
On a recent episode of 32 Thoughts, Friedman said that Toronto's lack of draft capital severely limits their trade options.
The Leafs don't have a first-round pick in 2025 and have already moved their second-rounder as well.
Their most valuable remaining pick is their 2026 first-rounder, which isn't as needed for teams looking for more immediate returns in a trade.
Toronto's prospect pool doesn't provide much leverage either because after prospects like Easton Cowan, Fraser Minten and Ben Danford, the Leafs don't have the depth to make a good offer.
This puts Treliving in a tough position since teams like the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers already making significant moves.
While blockbuster trades may be out of reach, the Leafs still have options like Scott Laughton, Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Thomas Novak are players that will not cost Toronto's future.
These aren't the flashy names fans may have hoped for but they could fit the Leafs' needs.
Toronto also has players like Nick Robertson, David kampf, Pontus Holmberg and Topi Niemela to trade.
Elliotte Friedman warns that overpaying for high-profile names like Brock Nelson or Ryan O'Reilly would be unwise.
In the end, the success of any trade will be seen by how it helps the Leafs in their ultimate goal which is winning the Stanley Cup.
Even if Treliving doesn't land a superstar, the right additions could still make all the difference.
| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 6 | 199 ANSWERS Elliotte Friedman Hits the Toronto Maple Leafs with a Harsh Reality Ahead of the Trade Deadline Do you think Brad Treliving should target a player who is not a superstar for his next trade? | ||
| Yes | 161 | 80.9 % |
| No | 38 | 19.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
