If you asked Toronto Maple Leafs fans last season if they would be last in the Atlantic and potentially selling assets at the trade deadline this year, they would have laughed in your face. This is no joke. The Leafs’ season has gone in the complete opposite direction from last year: the team now sits last in the Atlantic Division and 10 points out of a playoff spot. With the word “rebuild” being thrown around, it shows how this season has gone.
After having an impressive stint over the past month, the Leafs came back home with a five-game homestand against some of the league’s best in Minnesota, Detroit, Vegas, Colorado, and Buffalo. The team went 0–4–1, losing terribly in almost every game, as they were outscored 25–12 during this homestand. Simply not good enough.
With the Leafs performing well at home this season, this was a shock to fans. The team clearly shows no passion, no heart, and no grit. This is a problem, and it has led to the idea of a rebuild. This is a complete shock, as they won the Atlantic Division last season. If the team goes into a rebuild, who could they trade to gather key assets in return? Here are some pieces that can bring solid returns and kick-start the rebuild.Â
Brandon Carlo should be on the move
Brandon Carlo’s career as a Maple Leaf has been one to forget. Carlo clearly looks like a shell of himself, as he went from being a part of the big, bad Boston Bruins, throwing the body and being tough to play against, to being a soft pylon on the ice. Safe to say, he could use a change of scenery.
Many NHL teams would love a right-shot defenseman who plays the body and has a physical presence. Carlo, in another uniform, could do that. The trade that brought Carlo to Toronto was a first-round pick and former Leafs prospect Fraser Minten. The Leafs could get a similar, if not better, offer to dump Carlo’s cap hit on another team to bring in picks, as the Leafs do not have many draft selections for the next couple of years. Trading Carlo would be a great start to a rebuild.
Nick Robertson could fetch a mini haul
On pace to have his best season in his Maple Leaf career, Nick Robertson could bring in a solid package back in return to the Leafs. He has been up and down the lineup for many seasons through the Sheldon Keefe era and last season with Craig Berube’s first season behind the Leafs bench. Now, Robertson has solidified his spot on the Leafs’ third line.
In many seasons, it feels like Robertson may have never gotten the greatest opportunities and chances to showcase his abilities, and this season, he’s shown he can be a threat in the middle-six. Many teams are looking to add depth forwards who can score, and Robertson can do that. A trade could include a couple of picks and maybe even a young prospect, which would highly benefit the Leafs in a rebuilding scenario.
Bobby McMann is the most obvious sell
A controversial trade piece would be Bobby McMann. McMann has been a stud, developing into a solid second left wing spot. Like Robertson, on pace to have his best season in his career, McMann is proving he can be a consistent 20-goal scorer, and his development could continue.
Trading a guy like McMann would bring the Leafs a ton of value, as he could catch a player and a first-round pick in return, which is something the Leafs need to start a rebuild. This trade could hurt the Leafs in the future, as this could turn into a Zach Hyman situation, but with the option to gain assets off of McMann, it wouldn’t be a bad opportunity to acquire valuable pieces to help the rebuild.
A turn of events
This season has been one to forget for the Leafs as their playoff chances dwindle after every loss. Catching up to the other teams in the Atlantic will be challenging, as the Leafs’ rivals appear to be surpassing them, as Montreal, Buffalo, and Boston have had great seasons. Leafs fans can only watch as a once-promised golden era with Stanley Cup aspirations has now turned into something unrecognizable. The rebuild isn’t official yet, but it feels inevitable. And for a fanbase that has waited decades, inevitability is the cruellest ending of all.
It is a retool, not a rebuild! This article seriously thinks Carlo will fetch as much or more than was traded to get him?!! This guy has looked poor since the Leaf got him last year. It would probably be good to unload Robertson as he’s been a problem 2 years in a row and I’d bet he’ll be a major problem again this year in negotiations. He’s not worth the distraction.