After 51 games, it’s safe to say we have a good handle on what the Leafs are and what their needs are. Even after this slide, they have the eighth-best record in the league, and the playoffs are close to a lock. The Atlantic Division is as weak as it’s been in years, and despite its inconsistency, Toronto still has as good of a chance at winning it for the first time as anyone.
. . .
You layer on top the team’s scoring issues, and it feels like the best-case scenario for the trade deadline would be fulfilling a three-part shopping list:
No. 1: A 3C who can add offence
No. 2: A right-shot defenceman to help Rielly
No. 3: More secondary scoring
. . .
The bigger problem is those first two holes feel incredibly difficult for Toronto to fill. The deadline is shaping up to be a seller’s market in a big way, with few teams throwing in the towel on the playoff chase and hardly any marquee names to serve as quality rentals.