Next Stretch Will Determine What Direction the Toronto Maple Leafs Head In
Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period joined SiriusXM NHL Network Radio with Steve Kouleas and Anthony Stewart, and the Toronto Maple Leafs were discussed. Pagnotta states that if the road trip doesn’t go well, the Maple Leafs should consider moving out pieces.
NHLRumors.com Transcriptions
NHL Rumors: Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Detroit Red Wings
Steve Kouleas: “We’re going to speak in regards to the Toronto Maple Leafs and the realism of not making the playoffs, as opposed to creating it. And I do know you’ve discussed if that’s the case, then there could possibly be a sell-off that might include blank.
What are you hearing about by way of filling within the blanks of players who could possibly be available because the Leafs could possibly be sellers on the deadline for the primary time since March 2016?”
Dave Pagnotta: ” I believe this four-game road trip is actually going to dictate what this team goes to find yourself doing between now and now on the deadline. There’s somewhat little bit of runway ahead of the roster freeze on the fourth. I believe their last game is the second, they play back-to-back in Edmonton and Calgary. Before that, this Saturday, they’ve got Vancouver, and night, they’ve got Seattle (lost 5-2). These are winnable games for them, like they needs to be. You take a look at it, at the very least on paper, you’ll think three of the 4 needs to be achievable, and possibly you possibly can squeeze a degree within the Edmonton game.
But when this thing doesn’t go their way, then I believe they should take a serious take a look at moving some pieces here. They’ve got 29 games left within the season as of today. You lose 4 of those more. You’re that much further out of the playoff spot, you’re eight points back. Now, they’ve had talks with Bobby McMann‘s camp about an extension, but nothing to report there; nothing has gone anywhere up to now.
They plan to talk over with Scott Laughton‘s side, but they haven’t done that yet. These are loose discussions that will have occurred on each side, but by way of actual negotiations with Laughton, that hasn’t happened yet.
They’ve another pieces. And in the event that they do undergo this road trip in Seattle and Western Canada, and it doesn’t, it’s not fortuitous for them; you may have to begin having serious conversations about another pieces.
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We all know that they dangled guys like (Brandon) Carlo and (Max) Domi and (Matias) Maccelli before, but that was at a time once they were attempting to package guys up to enhance and go from there. Perhaps they still try this. It could be more long-term pondering, anyone who might help them next season and on, but they’re going to have some serious questions that have to be answered.
I believe one which they might revert back to is Morgan Rielly‘s future in Toronto. He has a no-movement clause and a loose discussion with him within the offseason. After their season ended last yr, there was numerous high expectations on him coming into camp and coming into the beginning of the season, just not there yet.
He’s got some term left. He’s at $7.5 million, which is for a number two, is a solid number. It just hasn’t been that primary presence here in Toronto, and I’m very curious in the event that they return to him and say, Hey, let’s speak about some options.”
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