I had a dream last night that the Toronto Maple Leafs went through the trade deadline without making another move (I’m not kidding). They kept Bobby McMann, kept Scott Laughton, and dealt no one with term after moving Nic Roy. I woke up grateful this was just a dream. But to avoid a scenario like this, we need to lay out what the Leafs need to do this trade deadline for it to be a success.
So let’s do just that.
Trade Bobby McMann
If I see a breaking news tweet about McMann being extended in Toronto, I’m going to lose it. There is zero justification for keeping McMann around and giving him the payday he’s looking for.
If you can get a second for him, do it. If no one wants him and at the last minute you get offered a third for him, do it. There’s no use for him this season, clearly, as the Leafs are going to want to lose and lose a lot, and he’s not going to be worth the $4–5M he’s going to get in two years.
McMann is the most obvious Leafs trade candidate, and anything other than moving him will be a shocker and a huge disappointment. His price may have come down, as I don’t see someone moving a first to get him, but still just deal the guy. Please, Brad.
Trade or extend Scott Laughton
I would personally try to extend Scott Laughton before trading him. But this comes with an extra layer: the Leafs need a new coach to actually play him properly. Laughton has played in top-sixes before. He’s been a winger before. We have gone a full year with him, and Craig Berube has tried neither. For the life of me, I don’t understand why.
Given this information, it’s extremely unlikely Laughton wants any part of being on this team next year. Which is why I’d fire Berube first and then come to Laughton talking extension. Dramatic? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely.
Neither of those things will happen, so the other option is trading him. And it’s the exact same situation as McMann: just get whatever you can. I don’t care if it’s a third or some B-level prospect. Just deal him. He deserves to play for someone not named Craig Berube.
Listen on everyone else
Does a team want Matthew Knies? Hear their offer. Do they want Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Simon Benoit? Hear their offer.
No one should be off limits except Auston Matthews and William Nylander. I don’t care if Treliving trades four of our defencemen. Everyone and everything is on the table.
The Leafs have cap space going into the summer, and this team sucks. There’s no point in keeping guys around who contribute to this sucking. Reshape this roster in the summer, and hoard assets now. It’s the only thing to do.
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