Reporter Reveals Maple Leafs Could Be in for Trade Deadline Shocker

It's been more than a decade since the Toronto Maple Leafs used the trade deadline to gather assets for the future rather than beefing up the team's current roster.

However, TSN's Travis Yost says it's time to start thinking about the Leafs returning to being sellers at the trade deadline, given the team's current play.

Yost writes that "deeply uninspired play" and a slow start to the season may leave the Maple Leafs with few options at the trade deadline other than being sellers for perhaps the first time in the Auston Matthews era.

Yost specifically points to issues with goaltending, and the fact that the Maple Leafs currently have their worst shot differential in the last five seasons as reasons this team could be in a different spot at the trade deadline than it has been for a while. He contends the only way to fix it is to start winning now.

There will be those that argue it's way too early to start worrying about the Maple Leafs possibly missing the playoffs. They are wrong. Statistics show NHL teams not in a playoff position by Thanksgiving in the US have a very hard time getting into one before the season ends.

That is just a week away, and just two Maple Leafs games away. Whatever coach Craig Berube needs to do to eek out some wins must be done now before it's too late.

Should the Maple Leafs not be able to right the ship, and miss the post season, both Berube and GM Brad Treliving could find themselves in the unemployment line come April.