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Toronto Maple Leafs management makes critical decision after falling to last place
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving is facing pressure right now, and in the midst of this, he is making one of the toughest decisions of his tenure.
In case you haven't noticed, the Toronto Maple Leafs have not been particularly good this season. The team is struggling mightily, and it feels as though there are some real chemistry problems.
Following a loss to the Montreal Canadiens, the Maple Leafs are last in the Atlantic Division and last in the Eastern Conference. Even the Buffalo Sabres have more points than them.
It is an embarrassing position to be in, and general manager Brad Treliving is being asked to make some big moves. For instance, fans wanted Craig Berube fired. Meanwhile, other fans simply want a big trade.
Toronto Maple Leafs injuries remain a concern
On TSN 1050 this morning, insider Darren Dreger made it clear that the Leafs organization is refusing to panic right now. Treliving has a belief in his group, and there is a specific reason why this is the case.
Injuries have been piling up for the Maple Leafs. Auston Matthews, Chris Tanev, Matthew Knies, Anthony Stolarz, Brandon Carlo, and Nicolas Roy are all out of the lineup right now. How can you panic when your best players aren't even on the ice.
The panic isn't there yet, but when you're looking up at the Buffalo Sabres in the standings, that's problematic - with all due respect to Buffalo.
Unfortunately, the Leafs are playing the Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, Florida Panthers, and Carolina Hurricanes over the course of the next week. If they don't get healthy, some more losses could be coming.
Brad Treliving trade history now in focus
In the midst of all of this, fans are also taking a look at Brad Treliving's trade history with the Toronto Maple Leafs, which hasn't exactly been great. Especially when you think about last season's mistakes.
For instance, Treliving traded Fraser Minten and a first-round pick for Brandon Carlo, who hasn't been particularly productive this season. Meanwhile, the team traded Nikita Grebenkin and a first-round pick for Scott Laughton, who is a fourth-liner.
This past summer, the Leafs traded for Matias Maccelli, who is not what fans hoped. They also traded for Dakota Joshua, who, let's face it, deserves to be a healthy scratch.
Needless to say, the confidence in management is at an all-time low right now.
| POLL | ||
NOVEMBRE 24 | 616 ANSWERS Toronto Maple Leafs management makes critical decision after falling to last place Do you believe the Toronto Maple Leafs are being well-run under Brad Treliving? | ||
| YES | 100 | 16.2 % |
| NO | 516 | 83.8 % |
| List of polls | ||