As we all know, the Maple Leafs have been in talks with numerous teams since the summer about shoring up their blueline. After failing to address the Leafs' blueline needs this summer, GM Brad Treliving has been working the phones all season long in hopes of securing a deal that both makes the team better and doesn't cost them a top prospect or a 1st round pick. That's a heck of a tightrope to walk.
In recent weeks, the Leafs have been linked to the likes of Chris Tanev, Sean Walker and Matt Dumba, among others. Originally, the asking price on Tanev was a 2nd round pick and an additional piece. The asking price on Dumba was believed to be in the same ballpark. Walker was the one whose value appeared slightly higher at first, with some suggesting that Walker could net the Flyers a first round pick under the right circumstances. Now, according to The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta, Dumba and Tanev have seen their stock rise to the point where they may return the same value, a first round pick, for their respective clubs.
The Leafs don't have the luxury of owning any of their own 2nd rounders for the next 3 drafts, so they've become somewhat limited in what they can offer. Reports from various insiders have suggested that Treliving has attempted to offer more substantial packages in terms of volume so far, sacrificing some quality for quantity, but that teams don't seem interested in going that route at this time.
If these prices continue to rise to levels that just don't make sense for the Leafs to pay, then perhaps they truly are better served to just standby and allow the deadline to pass without making any significant moves and just addressing their needs in the summer. It's not the ideal route to go down, but it might be the only one that makes sense if they want to avoid overpaying.
