The Toronto Maple Leafs have been one of the teams most notably seeking to upgrade their current forward group. Despite a logjam, the abundance of NHL-level forwards is of the bottom-six variety.
That situation has sparked talk and speculation about the Maple Leafs pursuing a top-six forward. But among that pursuit, one name emerged: Dillon Dube.
Of course, Dube is not an NHL top-six forward, but the links between him and Leafs GM Brad Treliving are undeniable.
Dube was a second-round pick of the Calgary Flames in 2016. At that time, the Flames’ GM was Treliving. As such, the two forged a relationship as the 27-year-old Dube made his way through the Calgary system.
But despite the familiarity, Treliving was adamant about shutting down rumors that the Maple Leafs would be interested in bringing Dube to Toronto.
Treliving spoke to the media on Wednesday. During the availability, Treliving addressed the Dube rumors by stating:
“I heard there was some noise out there… We’re not focused on that right now… We’d have to go through a process with everything that happened.”
The comments, as quoted by TSN, highlight how cautiously the Leafs have been regarding the matter. While Dube and four other players were cleared of criminal charges, it seems NHL clubs want to steer clear of any potential backlash that could stem from signing one of these players.
Treliving concluded his comments by stating:
“Yes, I know Dillon, but you have to be in a very comfortable situation to think about that, and that’s not our focus.”
The Leafs will be heading into training camp with 73 players on their radar. That number will come down to 23 by the time the puck drops on the 2025-26 season.
Maple Leafs Need a True Top-6 Forward
While Dube could provide decent depth, the Maple Leafs have plenty of it. What the club truly needs is a bona fide top-six forward who could play with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies, or suit up on the second unit with John Tavares and William Nylander.
However, the market has been dry on such players. The Maple Leafs, like other contending teams, are in a holding pattern. The speculation around the league is that the trade market could pick up around Thanksgiving.
As teams begin to fall out of contention, clubs like the Maple Leafs could swing a deal to bring in a quality top-six forward. That’s why Dillon Dube doesn’t make much sense for Toronto at this time.
Toronto Looking to Clear Roster Spots at Camp
If anything, the Maple Leafs are looking to clear roster spots at camp this fall. The club has plenty of solid middle and bottom-six forwards who will be vying for ice time.
So, fans should keep an eye out for cuts. Some may come early in camp as the team narrows its sights on the 12 players who’ll suit up for Opening Night. The competition will be fierce as the Maple Leafs look to cement themselves as a legit Stanley Cup contender.
That much will be evident as training camp and the preseason kick off this week.
Maple Leafs GM Passes on His Former Draft Pick