Leafs GM Treliving Plays Coy on Trade Deadline Moves, but Big Swings Unlikely
Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving wasn’t about to tip his hand when speaking to the media in Pittsburgh ahead of the NHL trade deadline. In fact, he even joked about his unwillingness to reveal much.
“I’m not going to get into a whole lot about the deadline, other than to say we’re going to try to help ourselves,” Treliving quipped. “We want to try to improve our team. That’s pretty breaking news, isn’t it?”
While Treliving made it clear he’d like to bolster the roster, he also expressed confidence in the current squad. And why wouldn’t he? The Leafs entered Sunday riding a four-game winning streak and battling the Florida Panthers for the top spot in the Atlantic Division. Despite injuries to key players Auston Matthews, Anthony Stolarz, and Chris Tanev among them Toronto has stayed competitive and looks primed for a deep playoff push.
That said, standing still isn’t exactly the plan either.
Though speculation has linked the Leafs to St. Louis Blues captain Brayden Schenn and even Carolina’s Mikko Rantanen (should he become available), Treliving downplayed the idea of swinging for the fences. Acquiring a player of that caliber would require sacrificing major assets, possibly including top prospects Fraser Minten or Easton Cowan. Additionally, Toronto is already without its 2025 first-round pick, meaning any blockbuster deal would likely force them to consider moving their 2026 first-rounder.
Treliving remained tight-lipped about trading young talent but acknowledged their value.
“To me, they are top players, they’re going to be NHL players, and we think highly of them,” he said. “They’re exactly where they need to be right now, and we’re excited about their development.”
Of course, the other challenge is finding trade partners willing to bite. The Leafs’ available assets may not generate significant interest, and there’s doubt over whether defenseman Jani Hakanpaa who has barely played due to knee issues can be a meaningful piece in any deal.
As the clock ticks down to Friday’s deadline, the Leafs may not be gearing up for a blockbuster, but subtle upgrades remain on the table.
