Recent Actions From Leafs GM Brad Treliving Could Indicate an Imminent Trade in Toronto

The 4-Nations Face-Off has seemingly provided the NHL with another trade deadline. We've seen several major deals break in the last two weeks with plenty of focus surrounding the two week lay-off in the middle of February due to the international tournament.

The actual trade deadline is set for the 7th of March, and as always, the Toronto Maple Leafs will be in the thick of things, considering their needs up front and on the back-end.

While it might not have made headlines at the time, Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving was recently spotted at an OHL game earlier in the week between the Erie Otters and Owen Sound Attack.

It's important to note that top upcoming draft prospects like Matthew Schafer and Malcolm Spence were not in the lineup, so this wasn't just your run of the mill draft watch.

The Leafs don't have any prospects on either team, and Treliving had no real concievable reason to be there if he wasn't watching someone in specific -- such as a prospect from another NHL club that may end up being included in a trade.

It's worth noting that there were prospects on both sides that have NHL-ties with the Anaheim Ducks, Chicago Blackhawks, and Los Angeles Kings -- 3 teams with whom the Leafs could bargain with ahead of the deadline. The Leafs have a pretty good relationship, historically, with all 3 clubs when it comes to making trades.

Owen Sound has Kings' goaltender Carter George, while the Otters have defenseman Ty Henry and forward Martin Misiak from the Blackhawks as well as forward Casey Terrance from the Ducks.

Terrance and Misiak were drafted by their respective clubs in the 2nd round in 2023. George was drafted in the 2nd round last year, and Henry was a 6th rounder in 2024 as well.

There's plenty of time between now and the deadline to ponder the many moves that Treliving could be trying to facilitate. One thing is clear, though, Treliving likely would not have been at that game if he wasn't at least discussing something with a rival NHL GM.