The Toronto Maple Leafs continue to work out at the Ford Performance Centre in Etobicoke in preparation for the restart of the NHL regular season next week, but with two weeks before the March 6th trade deadline, Brad Treliving has likely laid the groundwork to be a seller after the NHL roster freeze is lifted, but there has been some question as to whether the Leafs GM will follow through on those plans, and if they depend on what they do in the six games and how far they are behind the Eastern Conference wildcard spots.
TSN’s Darren Dreger indicated on 1050’s First Up morning show that the Leafs have had “low-level” discussions with the camps for pending UFA’s Scott Laughton and Bobby McMann, and expects that Treliving will talk with McMann to get a read on what he is thinking about his future. Dreger believes that the 29-year-old does not want to go anywhere, but believes that Treliving has not done any of the “heavy lifting” in terms of contract talks because the club’s posture will be determined by what they do once the season resumes.
Keeping Their Options Open
If this is truly the stance of the Leafs with less than two weeks to go before the deadline, then it is truly asinine and short-sighted. Based on the lack of quality free agents on the market this summer, McMann is bound to get overpaid on July 1, and in spite of Dreger’s assertion that the Alberta native is very comfortable in Toronto, the only way extending him makes sense is on a shorter-term deal at a hometown discount. David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period has indicated that there has been no progress on contract talks between Toronto and agents Brian and Scott Bartlett (who also represent Buffalo’s Alex Tuch, the top free agent in the 2026 class).
Leafs head coach Craig Berube indicated that defenseman Chris Tanev is going to continue to skate during the break to see if he can possibly play this season, but it appears that now or at the end of the season, he is destined to have surgery to repair the groin issues that have plagued him since late December.
