The Toronto Maple Leafs are staring down a pivotal stretch, and for the first time in the Auston Matthews era, making the playoffs isn’t a sure thing. That uncertainty is casting a long shadow over the team’s approach to the March 6 trade deadline - and it’s putting general manager Brad Treliving squarely in the spotlight.
As of now, the Leafs find themselves three points back of the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot, with one game in hand. That gap is certainly bridgeable - but only if Toronto can stay healthy and string together wins.
That’s the problem. The team’s been hammered by injuries, and the clubs ahead of them in the standings aren’t exactly slowing down.
It’s a tough combination, and it’s left the front office in a bind.
Treliving, who took over as GM in May 2023 after nearly a decade with the Calgary Flames, is navigating his first full season in charge of this roster. And make no mistake - this is his roster.
While core stars like Matthews, William Nylander, and John Tavares were already in place, Treliving has either extended those contracts or built around them. The rest of the supporting cast?
That’s largely his doing.
But the results haven’t been markedly different from the Dubas era - and in some ways, they’ve taken a step back. The Leafs are older, thinner on draft capital, and lacking in high-end prospects. The window isn’t closed, but it’s certainly narrower, and the margin for error is shrinking fast.
That’s what makes this deadline so tricky. The Leafs are in a spot where buying big feels risky, but selling off pieces might be seen as waving the white flag - something no front office wants to do when the postseason is still within reach. According to insider James Mirtle, who spoke on The JD Bunkis Show Thursday, the Leafs may end up stuck in the middle, unable to fully commit to either direction.
“I think they’re going to end up being paralyzed and not doing a whole lot either way,” Mirtle said. “Especially because it’s a lame duck GM as well. I don’t think Treliving survives if they miss the playoffs, so that puts them in a tough position.”
It’s a no-win situation for Treliving. He’s trying to steer a team that’s banged up, underperforming, and lacking flexibility - all while his own job security hangs in the balance.
And while fans might still want to look back and assign blame to Kyle Dubas or even Brendan Shanahan, the reality is clear: this version of the Maple Leafs is Treliving’s creation. The decisions, the direction, the personnel - it’s all on him now.
Whether this team can rally and make a push remains to be seen. The standings suggest it’s possible.
But with each passing game, the pressure mounts - not just on the players, but on the man who built the roster. If the Leafs miss the postseason, the consequences could reach far beyond the ice.