Toronto’s Big Trade Deadline Play: Leafs Look to Make a Statement

Sitting atop the Atlantic Division with a record of 27-13-2 and fifth-best league-wide with 56 points, could this be the year the Toronto Maple Leafs go all-in at the NHL trade deadline in hopes of capturing the franchise’s first Stanley Cup championship since 1967?

On Wednesday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Frank Seravalli and Tyler Yaremchuk discussed the Maple Leafs’ approach heading toward the March 7 deadline and if it could differ from prior years.

Tyler Yaremchuk: I found it really interesting yesterday, your line of, ‘Win Stanley Cups, not press conferences.’ Teams maybe need to recognize that the big move is not always the best move. When I say that, and think in my head of these Eastern teams, Toronto is the one that stands out to me. I could see them being more of a nibble around the edges versus a let’s go do something big. Even though there is a lot of pressure on them to win this year, do you disagree with that?

Frank Seravalli: I don’t disagree with it but it’s a different regime and a different time. But I think back to some previous deadline positions that they have gotten themselves into. I think Nick Foligno was like the fourth option on their list. They struck out on the first few and then said, ‘Oh my god, we’ve got to do something. We’re going to get Nick Foligno.’ Well, Foligno’s back just didn’t cooperate. He is actually playing really well right now, I am not advocating for him, but at that point in time, it didn’t work out and they were flailing because they didn’t get what they wanted and said, ‘Okay, we’re going to then get to this option.’ I think if you want to go into it with a curated list, don’t stray too far from it. That would be my advice. Your team is pretty good as it is. I am really curious to see what the overall thought process is from the Leafs’ front office, in general. Do they think that this year is an authentic chance to win?

Tyler Yaremchuk: That’s fair. I get what you’re saying, but also when you’re sitting right at the top of the conference, you have to believe that you have an authentic chance to win, especially if you believe that your goaltending is better than it has been in years past, with Stolarz and Woll.