The Toronto Maple Leafs are feeling the tension and want to make a ‘hockey trade’
Sportsnet: Elliotte Friedman said the Toronto Maple Leafs are feeling the pinch from their slow start and are looking for a hockey trade. They don’t seem interested in futures trading, including Easton Cowan. A Rasmus Andersson trade seems unlikely. Is Craig Berube in the seat?
Ron MacLean: “David Amber asked the question: which NHL team is most in need of a shake-up? And Luke Gazdic, who was sitting there all relaxed and happy, he said, the Toronto Maple Leafs.”
Friedman: “I think most of the audience would agree with that. This week has been one of those weeks. If you just talk to anyone there, if you’ve been to the rink or anyone in the organization, you can feel the tension. It’s one of those weeks where everyone is waiting for something to happen.”
So just calling around, this is the best information I can share. I don’t think they want to trade futures. I really don’t think they want to do that. And I’m including Easton Cowan in that, even though he’s in the lineup tonight and might stay there. You know, my grandmother always said there are no guarantees in life, so you can’t promise anything. But I don’t think this is close to what Toronto wants to do.
What I’m hearing, Ron, is that they want to make hockey trades, roster by roster. And they investigate what has value on their selection, what exactly that value is, and they can do something in that way. Grid by grate. And I know you…
MacLean: “Right, so I hear that, and I think, wait a minute, the selection, that means (William) Nylander.”
Friedman: “No.”
MacLean: “(Auston) Matthews or (Matthew) Knies.”
Frieadman: “We’re not talking about the core. We’re not talking about the core. We’re talking about other players on the roster. Like the top core players, no. But we’re talking about other players on the roster. Who else has value that isn’t part of the Big Core.”
MacLean: “And can I also ask Elliot, since you touched on a little bit on 32 Thoughts on the podcast, Tage Thompson was a popular outing on Thursday.”
Friedman: “No.”
MacLean: “Marcus, or Rasmus Andersson.”
Friedman: “Look, Rasmus Andersson, he keeps going until he keeps going. But I don’t believe that, I don’t believe this is a match for Toronto. They tried last year. They couldn’t do it. I don’t see it. But I could always be wrong.”
MacLean: “You spoke well about (Craig) Berube dealing with the press after he was clearly annoyed with Nylander during a game. Is he on the hot seat?”
Friedman: “I don’t believe it. Like, not, not now, Ron. Like, I don’t see that right now. I think they’re looking at a roster trade. What can we do with another team that can shake us up?”
MacLean: “Has Troy Stecher been brought in to be part of a roster trade roster, or…”
Friedman: “They want, no, they need him. They need a right-handed defenseman. The way they were, if they didn’t claim Stecher on waivers (yesterday), I think they’ll bring up Henry Thrun of the Marlies and play him. But Stecher was claimed. Brad Treliving is history for him. He traded for him when he was in Calgary.”
And one other thing: I think this tells us that Chris Tanev is on this journey. That includes Austin Matthews. But, as I don’t think Chris Tanev is, the timeline is: Do they really have a clue now? I don’t think it’s a short-term thing, even though he skated last week. So that’s another reason why they needed Stecher.”
MacLean: “Austin, is he close?”
Friedman: “He can come off, he can come off after Tuesday, we’ll see. I think everyone is hopeful, but no one knows for sure.”
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