Who Should the Maple Leafs Actually Trade?

The Toronto Maple Leafs are sitting ten points out of a playoff spot, and that pretty much answers the first big question: yes, they fit the definition of a seller. The tougher part is figuring out how far they should take this thing. A light clean-up? Or something closer to a real teardown?

Almost Everyone Should Be on the Maple Leafs’ Trade Table

Right now, according to Frankie Corrado, the honest answer is that almost everyone should be on the table. Outside of the core trio — Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and Matthew Knies — there aren’t any obvious “don’t even ask” names. For where the Maple Leafs are at, that’s just reality. When a season reaches the point where there’s nothing left to salvage, the job shifts from fighting for points to preparing for a quick turnaround next year.

And if Toronto wants a model to copy, the Bruins gave them a pretty good one last season. Boston moved out a handful of pieces. They made five or six deals, depending on how you count. They then used that flexibility to build the foundation of the team they have now. It wasn’t all flashy.

Some returns were underwhelming at the time, like the Brad Marchand deal, but in the long run, they assembled the right mix: Charlie Coyle, Justin Brazeau, Trent Frederic, and Brandon Carlo all left. And in Toronto’s case, that Fraser Minten deal still stings. Minten’s thriving in Boston, plus the Bruins grabbed Toronto’s first-rounder. That’s a tough one.

What Does That Mean for the Maple Leafs As the Season Winds Down?

So what does that mean for Toronto today? First, the UFAs have to go. Mandatory. You can debate them in the offseason, but right now you simply can’t afford to let assets expire for nothing. Even RFAs like Matias Maccelli probably need to find a new home.

And players with term? They need to at least be part of the conversation. Max Domi, Morgan Rielly… you don’t have to force anything, but you listen. Sometimes moving a player with term is the only way to bring back something meaningful.

For the Maple Leafs, This Doesn’t Mean Waving the White Flag Forever

This isn’t waving a white flag forever. This is accepting that this season isn’t fixable and setting yourself up to bounce back quickly. You punt on this year. Next, you gather picks, prospects, and cap space. You give yourself the ability to reshape the team into something better suited to playoff hockey.

Tough decisions. Not a lot of time. The deadline’s five weeks away. If they choose to sell, they need to go all-in on that direction and not half-step it. Because once you finally accept where you’re at, the path forward gets a whole lot clearer.

Related: NHL Trade Watch: Maple Leafs Selling, Panarin Interest, Wright On The Move?