The Toronto Maple Leafs are heating up at just the right time - but is it enough to shift their trade deadline plans?
After stringing together three straight wins, the Leafs now sit just five points back of the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot, currently held by their Atlantic Division rivals, the Boston Bruins. That’s a noticeable climb, but the playoff math still isn’t in their favor. As of Wednesday morning, moneypuck.com gave Toronto just a 10% chance of making the postseason.
So, with the trade deadline inching closer and the Leafs showing signs of life, could this recent surge change how general manager Brad Treliving approaches the next few weeks?
According to Sportsnet Insider Elliotte Friedman, probably not.
“They’ll continue to look around,” Friedman said during an appearance on The Fan Hockey Show on Wednesday. “They went out there last week and told teams, ‘We’re considering some things we didn’t think we’d have to consider.’”
Translation? The Leafs are still in evaluation mode - and that includes weighing moves that might’ve seemed off the table not long ago.
One of the bigger names floating around the rumor mill is forward Bobby McMann. The pending unrestricted free agent has quietly put together a solid campaign, registering 19 goals and 13 assists through 56 games. That kind of production - especially from a player with size and speed - doesn’t go unnoticed.
“I think they’re asking for a first-rounder for McMann, and that’s what I would do too if I was the Leafs,” Friedman said. “I really like McMann as a player. In this NHL, size matters, and he’s a big, strong, fast guy.”
McMann’s value isn’t just about numbers - it’s about fit. He plays a north-south game, doesn’t shy away from contact, and has shown he can chip in offensively.
For playoff-bound teams looking to add depth and grit, he checks a lot of boxes. And for the Leafs, who are trying to balance the present with the future, setting a high asking price makes sense.
Another name popping up in trade chatter: goaltender Anthony Stolarz.
Now this one’s interesting. Stolarz signed a four-year extension in September, but just a few months later, his name is being floated in trade talks. Through 16 appearances this season, he’s posted a 7-7-1 record with a 3.55 goals-against average and a .882 save percentage - numbers that don’t jump off the page.
Still, it’s not just about stats. The Leafs already have Joseph Woll under contract through the 2027-28 season and Dennis Hildeby waiting in the wings. That kind of depth gives Toronto options - and if they have any concerns about Stolarz’s long-term durability, now might be the time to act.
“Stolarz, to me, is an interesting one,” Friedman said. “This is a guy who just extended a few months ago.
I’m curious about the fact that they are already looking to trade him. If they’re worried about him physically, that’s one thing, but a year ago him and Woll were the second-best goalies in the league.”
It’s the kind of situation that underscores how quickly things can change in the NHL. One minute you’re locking in a goalie for four more years; the next, you’re fielding calls about him.
With 25 games left in the regular season - and six more before the trade deadline - the Leafs are at a crossroads. They’re close enough to stay in the fight, but far enough out that the front office can’t afford to be overly optimistic. Every point matters, and every decision from here on out could shape not just the rest of this season, but the direction of the franchise moving forward.
The question now isn’t just whether the Leafs can claw their way into the playoffs. It’s whether they’ll try to load up for a run - or start positioning themselves for what comes next. Either way, the next few weeks in Toronto are going to be fascinating.