With the NHL trade deadline less than one week away, the Toronto Maple Leafs find themselves clinging to the eighth and final playoff spot. Since beginning the month with three straight wins, they have gone on to lose five of six games.
Currently the bottom half of the Eastern Conference looks like this:
Team GP Pts
7. Ottawa 61 70
8. Toronto 59 64
9. Winnipeg 61 64
10. Washington 58 63
11. Tampa Bay 58 58
12. NY Islanders 59 58
13. Montreal 60 58
14. Buffalo 59 57
15. Carolina 60 57
The Leafs have looked awful during their slump and were ‘no shows’ in their three latest losses to Montreal, Calgary, and Vancouver, which is unacceptable - especially this time of year. Over the course of a season, teams are prone to those types of performances, but when it happens three times over a four game span then there’s cause for concern.
Currently, the Maple Leafs are not good enough to consistently beat the top teams. If they do manage to get into the playoffs, they surely won’t be there long. They aren’t built to compete with physical teams like New York or Boston – who they are likely to draw.
Should the Maple Leafs buy?
Toronto has recently been linked to big names like Rick Nash and Jeff Carter. Both players would help, but the team isn’t a Rick Nash or Jeff Carter away from being a threat. Although the asking price for Jeff Carter would be much less, Rick Nash could cost the Maple Leafs Luke Schenn, Keith Aulie, Nazem Kardi, and a first round pick. Toronto’s major flaw is team toughness. Instead of focusing on Rick Nash, Toronto should target physical players like Paul Gaustad, Travis Moen, and Steve Ott.
Should the Maple Leafs sell?
How good are the Toronto Maple Leafs? Clearly they are much better this year than in previous seasons, but they are still a few years away from being a very good team. Is extending the season by four or five games worth sacrificing their future for a Rick Nash type player? Although they are in the thick of the playoff race, the Maple Leafs may be better off long-term by selling some of their assets for future pieces. One name in particular that has drawn plenty of interest is Mikhail Grabovski. With ‘Grabo’ set to be an unrestricted free agent at season’s end, and looking for a long-term deal at roughly $5 million annually, the Leafs should consider trading him instead of losing him for nothing if he isn't signed. Luke Schenn has also garnered plenty of attention, and seeing as the team’s strength is on defense, they may have to trade him for help somewhere else – either in goal or up front.
One thing that has become evident is that the Maple Leafs are not good enough to do any damage in the playoffs – that is assuming they even qualify. Even if they buy themselves Rick Nash, it will likely be a costly move and will not be enough to take them to the next level.
Your Thoughts: Should the Maple Leafs buy or sell?
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