The Toronto Maple Leafs are actively preparing for the upcoming Trade Deadline, with early moves already taking place. Despite missing out on Chris Tanev last week, some recent developments have sparked discussions.
Initially, many were content with missing out on Tanev, believing that he wouldn’t be a significant enough upgrade for the team. However, the acquisition of Ilya Lyubushkin has caused some to reconsider. The difference in cost between Tanev and Lyubushkin may have been smaller than anticipated, leading to some regret over the missed opportunity.
While the Leafs have yet to make any significant moves, other teams are making early moves. The Minnesota Wild re-signing Zach Bogosian may not directly impact the Leafs, but it does eliminate the possibility of a trade involving Bogosian, a player some felt the Leafs didn’t need due to an abundance of defense-only players in their lineup.
The major news comes from the Golden Knights, who traded for Anthony Mantha, a player with impressive statistics this season. The Knights managed to acquire Mantha with 50% of his salary retained, giving up just a second-round and fourth-round pick. This trade is seen as a significant win for the Knights, as they acquire a high-impact player at a bargain price and minimal cap hit.
This trade is a blow to the Leafs, as some had hoped they would make a move for Mantha to bolster their lineup. While the Leafs may not necessarily need more wingers, Mantha would have been a substantial upgrade over some of their current players.
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