While much of the NHL seems content to wait out the Olympic roster freeze before making any major trade deadline moves, the Toronto Maple Leafs don’t appear to have that luxury. At least, not according to TSN’s Darren Dreger, who wonders if the Leafs will try to make a bigger deal in the coming weeks.
In his latest column for The AthleticInsider Pierre LeBrun notes that many buyers are leaning toward patience. This reasoning makes sense because teams want to avoid trading for a player who could get injured at the Milan Olympics, and they also want flexibility in case one of their own players gets hurt abroad. Even with the pause, the twelve days following the roster freeze should give the GMs plenty of time to negotiate.
The Toronto Maple Leafs could be looking at another option
For Toronto, they could be thinking about a different kind of move, where they could potentially beat the rush of transactions following the freeze and gain an edge in the market. It’s a risk, but it can yield great rewards.
“As great as that is for teams that can afford to wait,” LeBrun writes, “some teams cannot.” Injuries, inconsistent play or the need for a season-changing move could force some clubs to act before the freeze – even if it means paying a premium or moving earlier than planned.
Toronto fits that description.
According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, the Leafs have already made new calls around the league looking for defensive help. Losing Chris Tanev again has only increased that urgency. They are starting to play better hockey, but they know there are holes that need to be filled and further injuries could be crippling.
The Leafs are in win-now mode and waiting until after the Olympics could pose a real risk. If they’re competing for the same players as everyone else, the market could tighten in March and the Leafs won’t have the same assets to offer as other contenders. Prices could rise and Toronto’s margin of error in the standings could shrink. If management believes a legitimate top-four defenseman is now available, the incentive to act early increases significantly.
LeBrun still expects many of the league’s biggest deals to come after the Olympics, but Toronto could be an exception to that trend. Whether it’s a real blockbuster trade or a major hockey transaction, the Leafs seem much more likely to act sooner rather than gamble on patience – especially with their defensive depth already being tested.
Next: A second look at the Maple Leafs’ Carlo-Laughton Trades
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