Insider Confirms That Leafs GM Brad Treliving Is Looking to Make a Blockbuster Trade Before the Deadline
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
An NHL insider confirmed that Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Brad Treliving is looking to make a blockbuster trade before the deadline.
The Leafs are once again having a great season, leading the Atlantic Division with a 15-7-3 record after 24 games.
As we all know, regular-season success doesn't mean anything if the team can't win in the playoffs.
While they are off to a great start, General Manager Brad Treliving knows that he'll need to help his team ahead of the playoffs.
He had to recall some young guys from the AHL, such as Fraser Minten and Nikita Grebenkin, to fill holes in the lineup left by injuries. Even though they are performing well, Treliving will need to do more than that if he wants his team to avoid another first-round elimination.
Fortunately, Treliving and the Leafs have all they need to make a splash on the market.
In the latest episode of the Real Kyper and Bourne Podcast, the insider Nick Kypreos stated that the Leafs are positioning themselves as contenders to win the Atlantic Division, and they must "go big this year".
However, he added they are in no rush to make a move, as they can rely on their depth forward Pontus Holmberg while they evaluate their options.
"Holmberg can buy them time. Holmberg is buying them time for the eventual trade their gonna make. Looking for a center. Go big, this is the year to go big. It'll feel like another Ryan O'Reilly trade."
According to him, it would also make sense to see Treliving wait until the salary cap gets higher before pulling off a blockbuster move:
"Still a cap issue, we're excited the [salary] cap's going up. But it's not going up in the next three months, so there's some juggling on that front, and see how things open up.
Teams are now figuring out the contenders and pretenders, but they're winning, they're in a great position to win the Atlantic, there's no race to get a centerman today."
Teams are now figuring out the contenders and pretenders, but they're winning, they're in a great position to win the Atlantic, there's no race to get a centerman today."
It'll be interesting to see what Treliving decides to do. But if his team continues to perform and the GM believes they could have a long playoff run, he could decide to go all-in at the deadline.
Previously on Bladeofsteel
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DECEMBRE 4 | 945 ANSWERS Insider Confirms That Leafs GM Brad Treliving Is Looking to Make a Blockbuster Trade Before the Deadline Do you think the Toronto Maple Leafs will make a blockbuster trade before the deadline? | ||
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