The Toronto Maple Leafs will be out of action for more than two weeks, with the exception of team captain Auston Matthews, winger William Nylander, and defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who are making their way to Italy for the Winter Olympic hockey tournament, beginning next Wednesday. While their teammates are likely headed to someplace sunny and warm, the work is just beginning for GM Brad Treliving, who will have less than two weeks to work with between the roster freeze being lifted and the NHL trade deadline on March 6.
The Leafs, according to a variety of insiders, are in a posture of being sellers but more towards a quick reset and retool instead of a full rebuild. As it has been made clear from recent columns and various podcast appearances, my point of view is that the “tear it down to the studs” rebuild would be asinine, since the three main cogs at forward: Matthews, Nylander, and Matthew Knies, are all locked up for multiple years and are all under the age of 30, and both Matthews and Nylanders have full no-move clauses that would make it impossible for Toronto to get an equal return in a trade.
The retool would require a strategic selling off of assets for a maximum return before the deadline, including rental players, and players with term at positions where the Leafs have depth. We will take a look at each position on the roster and evaluate what Treliving could be prepared to do.
Right Wing
The situation with the Leafs on the right side is not as clear as on the left, other than the fact that Nylander and rookie Easton Cowan will not be traded. No matter what some of the geniuses who recommend a full teardown are advocating, Nylander is under the age of 30 and has scored 40 or more in the last two seasons. His injury issues this season are a blip rather than a trend. Cowan has had moments as a 20-year-old in his first pro season, but may still benefit from some time in the American Hockey League if head coach Craig Berube continues to healthy scratch him.
When it comes to the rest playing on that side, either part or full-time, there is less certainty. Max Domi is undoubtedly one of the worst defensive forwards in the NHL, but he has been less of a liability when playing alongside Auston Matthews. Over the last 10 games before the break, Domi has 11 points (4 goals, 7 assists). With two years left at a $3.75 million cap hit and a partial no-trade, it is unlikely that the return for him would be more than second-or-third round pick unless Treliving retained salary, and the motivation to move the 30-year-old veteran is not worth doing that at this point.
The ongoing saga of Nick Robertson and his future with the Leafs remains in question. Once again, the 24-year-old’s offensive tools have him in double figures and on pace to score 20 goals for the first time, but just like with Sheldon Keefe, head coach Craig Berube has hesitated to use him in anything more than a support role. If Berube’s future is in question, Treliving should not move a player who has speed and is improved defensively with two years of retention left, unless the return is significant.
With veteran Calle Jarnkrok, there have been a few reports that he is heading back to Sweden after the end of his four-year deal with the Leafs, and it is possible that a playoff-bound club could use the 34-year-old as a depth forward/penalty killer, which could recoup a mid-to-late round pick.
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