Ilya Lyubushkin in. Joel Edmundson in.
Naturally, the question being posed in Leafs Nation right now: Are the Leafs done tinkering with their roster ahead of Friday’s 3 p.m. Eastern deadline?
In short, no, they’re not.
Hearing that the #LeafsForever are still very active on the trade market trying to improve the roster.
Atop the wish list:
– Middle-six winger
– Another D— Nick Alberga (@thegoldenmuzzy) March 7, 2024
Now less than 24 hours from the trade deadline, it sounds like the Leafs are still trying to do a few different things. That said, they’ve remained consistent in that fact that top prospects Easton Cowan and Fraser Minten are off the table. Meantime, the first-round pick is available for the right package. As Elliotte Friedman intimated on Leafs Morning Take, Toronto has been searching for a combo deal —similar to what Edmonton and Anaheim did on Thursday for Adam Henrique/Sam Carrick.
Any way you slice it, Brad Treliving is living up to his reputation. He’s been in on just about everything.
For what it’s worth, the Leafs have been looking at both rentals and long-term options. In recent weeks, they’ve been linked to the likes of St. Louis’ Colton Parayko, San Jose’s Mario Ferraro, Montreal’s David Savard, Arizona’s Matt Dumba, and a laundry list of others.
On Parayko: For a variety of reasons, that deal is unlikely to happen. That’s a tough in-season move to make for most teams, never mind a team like Toronto who’s constantly in salary cap hell. Having said all that, when prompted by Nick Alberga on Leafs Morning Take about the right-handed shooting blue liner, Friedman didn’t completely shut down the notion:
“I think they’ve looked into it. I do. Again, I think you’d be foolish to think that the Maple Leafs haven’t checked out every defencemen that was available out there,” said the NHL Insider for Sportsnet/HNIC.
As for what Toronto potentially has to give up – assuming again that they’re not trading any of their big assets – Nick Robertson could be a name to monitor over the next 24 hours. Due to cap reasons, the 22-year-old was sent to the AHL earlier this week. Robertson, who’s potted eight goals in 41 outings with the Leafs this season, could be due for a change of scenery.
Furthermore, if Toronto’s going to get involved in a bigger type deal, indisputably, a name like T.J. Brodie could emerge as a potential piece to a deal.
We’ll see what happens.
