Maple Leafs Blow Out Penguins, But Bigger Questions Linger
The Toronto Maple Leafs finally gave their fans a reason to exhale - at least for a night - with a commanding 7-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Seven different players found the back of the net, and for a team that’s been stuck in neutral for most of the season, that kind of offensive outburst couldn’t have come at a better time.
But one big win doesn’t erase the bigger picture.
Toronto’s been under the microscope since the puck dropped on opening night, and while slow starts have been part of the script in recent years, this season has felt different. Before torching the Penguins, the Leafs hadn’t won a game in regulation since early November.
In fact, the last time they both outshot and beat a team in regulation was way back on October 28 against Calgary. That’s not just a slump - that’s a trend.
So yes, a seven-goal performance is worth celebrating. But the reality is, the Leafs are sitting second-to-last in the Atlantic Division with an 11-11-3 record.
The only reason the panic button hasn’t been smashed is that the division itself is unusually tight. Tampa Bay leads the pack with 16 wins, and while that puts them nine points up on Toronto, the gap is far from insurmountable.
In previous seasons, we’ve seen 20-point chasms between top and bottom - so technically, the Leafs are still in the race.
That said, being mathematically alive and being playoff-ready are two very different things. And even if Toronto claws its way back into the mix by the trade deadline, they’ll need to think long and hard about how they approach the second half of the season. This might not be the year to go all-in.
Let’s rewind to last season’s trade deadline. The front office, led by GM Brad Treliving, pushed their chips to the middle of the table.
They moved a first-round pick and Nikita Grebenkin to land Scott Laughton, then flipped another first-rounder and Fraser Minten for Brandon Carlo. Pricey moves, but at the time, they made sense.
Laughton gave them a reliable third-line center, and Carlo brought a much-needed right-handed presence on the blue line. With Toronto pushing for the division title, those additions felt like the right call.
Fast forward to now, and the picture’s a whole lot murkier.
The Leafs have allowed the fourth-most goals in the league. Their power play ranks 25th out of 32 teams.
The penalty kill is middle of the pack at 15th. Defensively, this team just hasn’t been good enough - and that’s being generous.
Making matters worse, the asset cupboard is nearly empty. After last year’s trades, Toronto is left with just a third- and a fifth-round pick in this year’s draft. That makes it tough to be a buyer, especially in a market that could once again tilt heavily in favor of sellers.
But here’s where things get interesting: the Leafs do have depth. And that depth could be their best currency if they choose to sell - even modestly - at the deadline.
Players like Nick Robertson, Easton Cowan, and Jacob Quillan have shown they can hold their own at the NHL level. That gives Toronto some flexibility.
If the front office decides to move out veterans and bring in picks or prospects, the team might not take a major step backward on the ice. In fact, it could be a smart way to retool without waving the white flag.
Names like Calle Järnkrok, Max Domi, Simon Benoit, Nicolas Roy, Dakota Joshua - even Laughton and Carlo - could draw interest. And if a contender comes calling, Toronto should at least be willing to listen.
The idea isn’t to tear it all down, but rather to be opportunistic. If you can flip a depth piece for a second- or third-round pick, you start to restock the shelves without gutting the locker room.
And then there’s Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Quietly, the veteran blueliner has turned back the clock this season, racking up 20 points in 25 games.
He’s under contract for two more years at a reasonable number, and he’s got a Stanley Cup ring to boot. That’s the kind of player playoff teams crave.
If someone calls, the Leafs should absolutely hear them out.
Of course, there’s one scenario where none of this applies: if the Leafs catch fire. If they go on a run, climb the standings, and find themselves battling for the top of the division, then sure - you ride the wave. But unless that happens, staying the course or making smart, forward-looking moves might be the better play.
Bottom line: this isn’t last year. The Leafs aren’t trending toward a division crown, and they don’t have the assets to chase a big fish at the deadline.
That doesn’t mean they should punt on the season. But it does mean they need to be realistic.
If the calls come in - and they will - Toronto should be ready to deal from its depth and start thinking about the bigger picture.
Because if this team is going to take the next step, it won’t be by doubling down on a hand that hasn’t been working.