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Maple Leafs Reportedly Ready to Part with Significant Assets for the Right Player
Photo credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman has revealed that the Leafs General Manager Brad Treliving is willing to part with significant assets for a specific player.
As the Leafs continue to manage the upper-body injury to captain Auston Matthews, who missed the team's last 4 games, Brad Treliving continues to search for more depth down the middle.
The Leafs have been linked to Habs center Jake Evans, New York Islanders pending UFA center Brock Nelson, and 25-year-old Flyers center Morgan Frost, just to name a few.
The asking prices obviously vary from team to team and player to player, but on The Fan 590's 'The Fan Hockey Show' on Monday, Elliotte Friedman revealed that the Leafs are willing to part with significant assets to bolster their center depth.
Friedman during his appearance on The FAN 590 on Monday:
"Well, you know, I think that's the number one thing he's (Treliving) been looking at all season," said Friedman when asked about the Leafs courting a center in the trade market.
"Aside from the injuries, I think they're pretty comfortable in goal Stolarz and Woll, knock on wood, they stay healthy, I think they'll be ok with them. I think they've generally been ok with their D.
They did a lot of their work in the offseason. I think now there's a question if they need to go find someone to play with Morgan Rielly. Is there a stylistic fit out there they like?
But, it's not their number one priority, I don't believe. I believe their number one thing all season has been - let's find another center."
"Aside from the injuries, I think they're pretty comfortable in goal Stolarz and Woll, knock on wood, they stay healthy, I think they'll be ok with them. I think they've generally been ok with their D.
They did a lot of their work in the offseason. I think now there's a question if they need to go find someone to play with Morgan Rielly. Is there a stylistic fit out there they like?
But, it's not their number one priority, I don't believe. I believe their number one thing all season has been - let's find another center."
Although there are a number of centers on expiring deals, the Leafs are only willing to part with significant assets if that center comes with term according to Friedman.
"Now, I think their preference is term. That's one thing I've heard out there, is that their preference is term.
I mean, if there's a rental they really like, I'm sure they'll pivot to that too. But, one of the things I've heard, is that if they're going to spend assets on a center, they would prefer it to be someone with term."
I mean, if there's a rental they really like, I'm sure they'll pivot to that too. But, one of the things I've heard, is that if they're going to spend assets on a center, they would prefer it to be someone with term."
The Leafs have not been able to find a fix for their depth internally in Matthews' absence. Despite the excellent play of Fraser Minten during his stint with the Leafs this season, the organization's preference is to have him play more minutes and develop more with the Marlies in the AHL.
One has to wonder whether the struggling New York Rangers might be willing to part with center Vincent Trocheck, who played with Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and Morgan Rielly during last year's All-Star Game.
As the calendar flips to 2025, the trade deadline is beginning to creep up and how the Leafs navigate the months ahead will be something that fans will be keeping a close eye on.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 30 | 2660 ANSWERS Maple Leafs Reportedly Ready to Part with Significant Assets for the Right Player Which center with term should the Leafs target? | ||
| Brayden Schenn | 847 | 31.8 % |
| Vicent Trocheck | 906 | 34.1 % |
| Scott Laughton | 339 | 12.7 % |
| Other | 568 | 21.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
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