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TSN anchor calls out Brad Treliving and Leafs' deadline plans

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Ryan Smitheram
February 23, 2024  (4:12 PM)
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Leafs GM Brad Treliving working the phone to get a deal done
Photo credit: NHL

The NHL's trade deadline is two weeks away, but the Toronto Maple Leafs and GM Brad Treliving have been on the hunt for months already trying to shore up their blueline ahead of what fans hope is an eventful deadline and a long playoff run.

To date, Treliving has had no luck in finding a deal that works for him and if he doesn't do something soon, history says it will be a quiet deadline day for the Leafs, as Treliving has not been an overly busy guy, historically speaking, on deadline day.

The problem for the Leafs and Treliving is their lack of picks and prospects to use as currency in trades and that Treliving is not willing to part with a first round pick or prospects like Easton Cowan or Fraser Minten for a rental player. However, TSN's Craig Button believes the Leafs and Treliving need to do whatever they can to improve the team. As he said on TSN's "First Up" yesterday, they have to be bold.

"Be ready to act on any option that makes your team better. You have this really good group of what I call five players and now your team is functioning and you know where you're at, you know where your weaknesses are or where you need to be stronger. Are you going to keep nibbling or nipping at the edges or are you going to go after it?

I've heard again and again and again about the Toronto Maple Leafs' belief in their core, and they should have belief in their core. Well now, go and help the core. You're not going to win unless you get deeper, unless you become a deeper team. I'm talking about specifically on the blueline, there is just no way.

To me, that's what I mean about being bold and if you're not going to be bold, you're throwing it up to a hope and a prayer. Hope and prayer is not a plan for me."

While Button believes the Leafs should essentially say "screw it" and deal their first round pick and other assets to address their needs on the blueline and go for broke, the Leafs need a long-term solution on the blueline. With Mark Giordano and T.J. Brodie set to become UFAs at the end of the season, and slowing down with age, it is not just the right side that needs help now, but the left side will need attention in a couple of months as well.

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TSN anchor calls out Brad Treliving and Leafs' deadline plans

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