MLSE Gives Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving the Green Light to Pull Off a Blockbuster Trade
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs officially have the green light to take a very big swing to acquire a real game-changer, thanks to new MLSE CEO Keith Pelley.
After years of hesitation and blocked trades under former Maple Leafs President Brendan Shanahan, it would appear as though Leafs GM Brad Treliving has the full support of his new President, Keith Pelley, to go all-in on this season.
MLSE Giving Leafs GM Brad Treliving the Full Green Light
According to TSN's Pierre LeBrun, who spoke with Pelley at the Board of Governors Meeting this morning, the Leafs are viewing this season as "go time", with their Stanley Cup window still believed to be wide open.
He twice referred to this, saying 'it's go time' in our interview at the Board of Governors, and what he means by that is that, look -- look at the age of our team. I mean, they're deep in their window here and the bottom line is that Brad Treliving has the full green light to take a swing between now and March 6th at the trade deadline if he can... So, Toronto would like to swing here before March 6th... The big boss says the GM can go for it.
LeBrun's report during Thursday's edition of TSN's "Insider Trading" should create some excitement in Toronto. The Leafs having the ability to spend this season seeking out a real season-altering trade, free of any limitations that they might have had under Shanahan, is meaningful.
Which Trade Targets Make Sense?
In terms of who they might pursue, that's still up in the air. Naturally, with the Nashville Predators considering a move involving Filip Forsberg, that's something that could tickle the Leafs' fancy, according to a previous report from NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman.
There is another big name pending UFA in New York in Artemi Panarin, who might also make a great deal of sense for the Leafs, especially since Panarin does represent another elite offensive winger, much like what the Leafs lost this summer in Mitch Marner.
The Cost of a Blockbuster Deal Might Hurt
The real trick here is how the Leafs go about pulling off a deal for a star player without many true blue chip assets. Such a move might require moving one of Easton Cowan, Ben Danford or potentially both, depending on the player(s) the Leafs look to acquire.
It wouldn't be surprising if the Leafs steered clear of the pending UFA players and went after someone with some term remaining on their deals, much like they've done in recent years, including last year's deadline, when they acquired Scott Laughton and Brandon Carlo. However, this time around, the name(s) coming back is/are sure to be bigger.
The Stanley Cup window is currently wide open in Toronto, and with Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares, Anthony and Matthew Knies locked up for the foreseeable future, the time may be now to push the chips in and truly go for it.
Previously on Maple Leafs Daily
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