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Reporter Says Fans Should Be Prepared for an Underwhelming Trade Deadline for the Leafs

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TJ Tucker
January 26, 2025 (11:17)

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With all the talk of the Toronto Maple Leafs landing a another centre before the trade deadline, one insider believes it will be difficult, if not impossible to do.

Almost since the beginning of the 2024-25 NHL regular season, hockey analysts have been talking about the Toronto Maple Leafs' need to grab another center before the trade deadline, with Elliotte Friedman recently linking the team to a hard hitting forward in San Jose.

While this may be the team's most immediate need to prepare for a potentially longer playoff run than normal, one insider believes analysts and fans are getting way ahead of themselves.

In the latest edition of Simmons Sunday, Steve Simmons claimed that it will be a very difficult task for Leafs GM Brad Treliving, because he has so little to work with when it comes to a return.

"Almost every day in the Big Smoke, I hear rumblings about a centre the Leafs will be acquiring near the trade deadline. The question from the other side: What do they have to offer that anybody wants?"

Simmons notes the organization's lack of valuable draft picks, and even says no one really wants the prospects in the Toronto Maple Leafs' system.

"They don't have a first-round pick this year? Their best prospects - defenceman Ben Danford, forwards Easton Cowan and Fraser Minten - may not be all that coveted. To pick up a Ryan O'Reilly or a Brock Nelson, they need to have something a rebuilding team would want. GM Brad Treliving has his work cut out for him here."

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While no one believes landing a valuable center will be easy, it's hard to understand why Simmons thinks prospects like Easton Cowan and Fraser Minten wouldn't be enticing for rebuilding teams.

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Treliving may have his work cut out for him, but he does hold some cards that are coveted by other NHL organizations, regardless of what Simmons has to say on the matter.

Previously on Toronto Hockey Daily

Anthony Stolarz Lands on LTIR for Maple Leafs, But There's No Need to Panic

Leafs Coach Craig Berube Criticizes Referees' Questionable Decision in Loss to Senators

Maple Leafs Prospect May Leave the Organization Due to a Lack of Opportunity Amid Hot Streak

POLL
JANVIER 26 \| 2565 ANSWERS Reporter Says Fans Should Be Prepared for an Underwhelming Trade Deadline for the Leafs Do you think rebuilding teams would have interest in Toronto Maple Leafs prospects Easton Cowan and Fraser Minten?
Yes	2261	88.1 %
No	175	6.8 %
Not sure	129	5 %
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Reporter Says Fans Should Be Prepared for an Underwhelming Trade Deadline for the Leafs

With all the talk of the Toronto Maple Leafs landing a another centre before the trade deadline, one insider believes it will be difficult, if not impossible to do.

Do you think rebuilding teams would have interest in Toronto Maple Leafs prospects Easton Cowan and Fraser Minten?