Time for trades

DAN CEARNS The Standard

If the Toronto Maple Leafs’ recent loss to the Florida Panthers proves anything, it’s that this team needs to take the New York Rangers’ lead in terms of handling things.

Despite being in a playoff spot, the Rangers have recently let other teams know they are interested in making trades to improve their club and are willing to move quality players like Chris Kreider. I think the Leafs need to consider making some bold moves over the next few months.

Since Auston Matthews has joined the Leafs, the club has only won one playoff series, and yet their standard still remains to be winning a Stanley Cup. To do that, you’ll have to beat teams like the Florida Panthers, who use toughness and size to their advantage. You’ll need to beat teams with a lot of skill and toughness like the Vegas Golden Knights or Winnipeg Jets if you make it to the Stanley Cup Final or you’ll need plenty of depth to beat deep teams like the Tampa Bay Lightning or New Jersey Devils. While the Leafs are in the top spot in the division as I write this, they can’t remain complacent. If a team like the Rangers, who have had a lot of recent playoff success, can want to switch things up, then the Leafs need to consider adding as well.

Recent injuries have exposed the need for depth at forward for the Leafs. Over the last while, they’ve had to call up a lot of American Hockey League (AHL) players such as Alex Steeves, Nikita Grebenkin and Alex Nylander after losing guys like Max Pacioretty, Auston Matthews, Max Domi and David Kampf to injury. It’s also forced them to bring a guy to the big team who would be better served developing in the AHL, and that’s Fraser Minten.

Since the season started, the team has had very little production from their bottom lines, with guys like Steven Lorenz (3 goals), Pontus Holmberg (1 goal) and Nick Robertson (1 goal) not producing much. In a playoff series, you’re gonna need production from more than just John Tavares, William Nylander, Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.

The team now has solid goaltending it can rely on with Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll in net. General Manager Brad Treliving needs to find the Leafs a difference maker. Someone who has an impact on the ice like a Matthew Tkachuk in Florida. Management needs to give the goaltending tandem more offensive support too to help win games.

I’ve liked the style, coach Craig Berube has implemented with this team this year and I feel like the Leafs could win playoff games with that style. But, they need to consider making bold trades if they are serious about winning a Stanley Cup.