Trade chatter involving the Toronto Maple Leafs this season has involved a top defenseman. Since joining the Leafs, Brandon Carlo has seemingly underwhelmed. He hasn’t been the physical or defensive force that fans and the media hoped he would be.
Plus, his extended stint on IR this season seems to signal that he had been playing through an injury. But he returned last Tuesday night against the Florida Panthers. And surprise, the Maple Leafs won a playoff-style game against one of their arch-nemeses.
Carlo’s return has certainly been a welcome one amid the Maple Leafs’ rash of injuries on the blueline. That’s why the 29-year-old has become untouchable for Toronto, despite trade rumors.
In short, the Maple Leafs cannot afford to jettison Carlo unless they can get a stunning return for him. If a Carlo trade brought back multiple pieces, including a replacement for Chris Tanev, then the best thing to do is keep Carlo in the fold.
The biggest issue here is the uncertainty surrounding Tanev. At this point, it’s unclear whether Tanev will miss a few weeks or the remainder of the season. Having that certitude is crucial in knowing where Carlo stands with the Maple Leafs.
Yes, the veteran blueliner is a valuable trade chip for the Maple Leafs. But the club’s thinning blue line needs him at the moment. That’s why Brandon Carlo may no longer be expendable this season.
Tanev Injury Alters Trade Deadline Plans for Maple Leafs
Prior to Tanev’s injury, the talk surrounding the Maple Leafs involved Carlo and other forward pieces like Nick Robertson and Matias Maccelli.
However, Maccelli and Robertson have played much better lately. Plus, Tanev’s injury has made Carlo as important as ever for the Maple Leafs.
To further compound matters, the Maple Leafs are actually playing some of their best hockey this season. The Leafs are 5-3-2 in their last 10 games, going 5-0-2 in their last seven. That run has brought life back to the club. Toronto is now tied with the Florida Panthers with 47 points and nipping at the heels of the Buffalo Sabres.
This situation means that the Maple Leafs’ trade deadline plans aren’t quite as cut and dry as they seemed a couple of weeks ago. It seems almost as though the best thing the Leafs can do is remain in a holding pattern.
The Worst Thing Leafs Can Do Is Make Deal for the Sake of It
At this point, the worst thing the Maple Leafs can do is attempt to make a deal for the sake of one. GMs often succumb to pressure by making deals just because. That’s where massive mistakes can occur.
Of course, the pressure to make changes in Toronto is tremendous. But the same could be said about numerous clubs. Unless there’s a trade out there that actually makes sense, Brad Treliving might be better off sidestepping the carnage that’s likely to ensue in the trade market. Then, Treliving could find a good deal amid the rubble.
The strategy is akin to waiting for a market crash to find good stocks at low prices. It may not be the sexiest approach. But the Maple Leafs don’t really have much of a choice.
Maple Leafs D-Man May No Longer Be Tradeable