After a backbreaking loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs are currently eight points out of a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. The media and the fans are currently on a low on the rollercoaster that is being a Toronto sports fan. Even coach Craig Berube had an understandably negative reaction to the loss to Buffalo, saying, “Until we can start doing things right and keep the puck out of our net, that’s the goalies included, this is what you’re going to get.”
When it comes to sports, Toronto is a very impatient city. In hockey, it’s crazy how much the little things tend to matter. For the Leafs, if they win in Vegas, hanging on to multiple two-goal leads, maybe none of this happens. If you’re the kind of person who wants to go down a rabbit hole… what happens if the Leafs win Game 3 against the Florida Panthers with a 3–1 lead in the second period? If they hang on and win that game, they go up 3–0, and more than likely win the series.
Selling OEL
Given that the Leafs are playing well below expectations so far this season, many fans and members of the media believe the Leafs should be a “seller” ahead of the trade deadline on March 6th.
According to MoneyPuck, the Leafs have a 4.5% chance to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Rumours are swirling about what will be the Leafs’ next move. Do they trade a guy like Bobby McMann? Do they go for a full retool and move on from Morgan Rielly?
One name who’s coming up in rumours is defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Objectively, he’s been playing very well this season, which is why now may be exactly the right time to get rid of him. His value will likely not increase, as he isn’t getting any younger and will likely begin to decline in the coming years.
The 34-year-old has 32 points in 54 games for the Leafs this season, which is leading the Leafs’ defence corps, and is good enough for fifth on the team in points. He’s under contract until the end of the 2027–28 season, making $3.5M a year.
Ekman-Larsson is far from the biggest problem with the Leafs right now, nor is trading him going to suddenly fix everything. Having said that, if management and the ownership still feel they can salvage this season, they need to make a move fast! Coach Berube said, “We look at scoring as everything, and it’s not. You’re not going to win in this league if you’re only focused on scoring; you need to play the whole rink.”
Potential return
Elliotte Friedman was on NHL Network last night talking trades. One player he brought up was the New York Rangers defenceman Braden Schneider. He’s 27, and making $2.2M AAV until the end of next season. This may be a little bit of a stretch because the Rangers are also considered to be sellers with the inevitable departure of Artemi Panarin. The Leafs would likely have to add a sweetener to get a deal for Schneider done.
It may work out a little bit better to trade Ekman-Larsson to a contender to get a better return. If you’re a team building toward the future, you likely won’t be pursuing a deal for a 34-year-old veteran. If you do dump Ekman-Larsson, trade him to a team that is in their championship window right now.
Ideally, if you’re the Leafs, you’d want some draft capital as a return. Many fans and members of the media believe it may be time for a rebuild in Toronto, and that the most effective way to do so is through the draft.
The Leafs are in a very pivotal time right now; they’re going to have to make moves and, more importantly, get them right, because Detroit is on the way up, Buffalo is on the way up, and these teams aren’t going to slow down and let Toronto catch up. It’s one thing to say it’s been bad, we have to do something, and it’s quite another to actually do something and do it right.
Breaking down why it is the wrong time to trade OEL: Unless the Leafs are going into a full 5 year rebuild, OEL’s 3.5 mil for the next 2 years is less than half of Rielly’s 7.5 and OEL is better in ALL ways. Yes, his trade value is more because he’s the best deal! One you want to keep if you intend to be competitive for the next 2 years! Look back to when OEL got the big contract with the Canucks because he was a great defenseman. He got injured quickly unfortunately, tried to play through it which dragged it out forever, causing the team to buy him out. This guy is an all-star defenseman who does it all. The one many were talking about getting a few weeks back! Now, OEL is back in form which he can supply the Leafs for the next 2 years but trade him!