#toronto-maple-leafs

#toronto-maple-leafs

They really test you with their speed and their ability to spread you out. I think we created some looks at times, just not able to break through earlier to change the momentum of the game. And then, unfortunately, we just didn't execute as well as they did, and they just made some better plays with the puck. At times our puck play wasn't as sharp and it slowed us down a bit. Obviously, somewhere, we've got to get better.

More specifically, Blues defenceman Justin Faulk is the right-handed blueliner who Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving should have his eyes on, as it does sound like St. Louis are open to just about any type of deal ahead of this season's trade deadline. Faulk, 33, is signed through next season at a very reasonable $6.5 million AAV, and does have some say in his future, holding a 15-team no-trade clause.

Pinpointing just one area of need for the Maple Leafs seems like an impossible task but wiser people (or more connected people) are reporting that the Maple Leafs have prioritized right shot defencemen as the target. Given that things haven't gone particularly well with Brandon Carlo, Chris Tanev is potentially out for the season, and while there is nothing but great things to say about Troy Stecher, some additional help for the overachieving waivers claim might benefit the team.

If Toronto wants to turn momentum into a playoff spot, it must accomplish something it has struggled to do all season: defeat divisional opponents. It's the most direct path to securing a playoff position in a jam-packed Eastern Conference. The Atlantic Division is the strongest group in the East, with multiple teams on hot streaks, and two of them currently holding down the wild-card positions. As part of their current five-game homestand, the Maple Leafs face two divisional opponents, starting with the Detroit Red Wings.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have missed out on Kiefer Sherwood, as he was dealt to the San Jose Sharks on Monday. The Maple Leafs were reportedly in on Sherwood but ultimately felt short and did not have an offer to entice the Canucks. Sherwood was the top player on the market heading into the Trade Deadline. This is the second trade in two days that the Maple Leafs have missed out on one of their targets.

Then again, perhaps the Maple Leafs are better off by missing out. The rationale lies in the price the Golden Knights paid for Andersson. The return was a third-pairing defenseman, a first-round pick, and a second-rounder. That second-rounder, however, could become a first-rounder if conditions are met. That was a steep price to pay. But from Vegas' point of view, it was worth it. From the Maple Leafs' point of view, it was doable.

The Toronto Maple Leaf are right in the thick of the hunt for a playoff spot after bouncing back from a terrible first half of the season. But, that doesn't mean that they are going to keep the roster the same as the NHL trade deadline approaches on March 6. According to one of the latest trade boards from The Athletic's Chris Johnston, a defenseman that we never really expected to be dealt, could be moved before the deadline.