Ahead of the trade deadline, we previously broke down how the Leafs should approach the deadline from a buy-or-sell perspective (conclusion: as long as they are in a playoff spot — which they are — they should look to add). We then looked at where their needs lie (at minimum, a top-four defenseman and a veteran forward of quality; although more help if possible would be welcome, of course).
Before we get into players that should be of interest to the Leafs, it’s important to gauge their overall mindset. There is a lot of talk about whether the Leafs are good enough to justify buying, but that’s a narrow prism through which to approach the deadline.