"The Toronto Maple Leafs should be in sell mode at the trade deadline for the first time in a decade. That much is clear, and I don't think anybody would argue otherwise at this point. Sitting eight points back of a playoff spot while every division rival seemingly wins every game, coupled with the team's generally uninspiring play this season, gives the franchise no real choice."
"In my view, the difference between a rebuild and a retool boils down to basically this for the Maple Leafs: In a retool, they keep Auston Matthews and William Nylander. In a rebuild, they don't. There are arguments for one path over the other, but it's obvious that neither player is moving between now and March 6. If/when they eventually do, GM Brad Treliving surely won't be the one in charge."
The Toronto Maple Leafs sit eight points outside a playoff spot amid inconsistent play, making sell-mode at the trade deadline necessary. The immediate goals are to restock draft capital and add young players while offloading problematic veterans, especially those under long-term contracts. Auston Matthews and William Nylander are not expected to be traded before the deadline due to no-movement clauses and remaining term, so decisions on them can wait. The organization also faces aging AHL depth and a thin prospect pool while lacking a first-round pick in 2025, underscoring the need to rebuild draft and prospect resources.
Read at Maple Leafs Hotstove
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