What Should Toronto Do?
- Cam denHoed
- 3 minutes ago
- 6 min read
The Toronto Maple Leafs are in one of the most uncomfortable positions in sports, stuck in the middle.
They're not buried in the standings. They're far from cruising. Going into the Olympic break, Toronto is five points out of the final Wild Card in the Eastern Conference. They've battled injuries to key pieces for months, their blue line has consistently been inconsistent, and secondary scoring has come in waves.
The loudest voices around the league are all saying to light the roster on fire, recoup assets, and think about the future. But here's my problem with that logic, the Leafs are not a bottom feeder. They still have elite talent in their core, and they're close enough in the tight playoff race that one strong run changes the entire conversation.
Toronto is also expected to be a bit healthier after the break, including some much needed reinforcements on the blue line. This team has not been able to dress its best lineup consistently all year. If they finally get healthy at the right time, that alone could be worth a few points in the standings.
On top of that, the post-break schedule is bearable. The Leafs have a cluster of games against teams around them in the standings. It's far from a cakewalk, but it's manageable. A dialed, healthy Leafs team could realistically stack wins in a short span and erase that five-point gap before anyone knows it.
That is why, in my opinion, punting now feels premature. This team hasn't had a fair swing at a fully healthy stretch run. If they get one, the narrative can flip in an instant. Suddenly, you're not selling, you're buying.
What to do with Depth Pieces?
Toronto's depth has been thoroughly tested all season, and Bobby McMann has been one of the few consistent contributors in the middle six. He brings size, speed, grit, and scoring that complements the stars, and he's already producing at a level that rivals comparable market options. While his market is high and he's almost certainly due for a raise next season, he's exactly the type of player you want to keep if you're trying to stay competitive. Losing him would create yet another need to fill at the deadline.
Instead, a more realistic target to move on from is Nick Robertson. While Robertson is a serviceable depth player, his production and role are more replaceable. Robertson is known to be unhappy in Toronto, and it seems the Leafs have been holding on to him, waiting for his value to rise. Now, having the best season of his career, seems like the best time to move on from him.
The Leafs could move Robertson for something along the lines of a mid-tier prospect, draft pick, or ideally part of a package for a proven top-six winger, creating flexibility to improve without sacrificing a core piece like McMann.
Another asset the Leafs realistically could move on from is Calle Jarnkrok. He is a vetran presence who could add some depth scoring but the $2.1 million in cap space is probably more valuable to Toronto than what he is currently bringing to the team. There is also a lot of chatter of Scott Laughton being moved but I don't see Treliving giving up on his deadline acquistion that quickly.
This approach allows the Leafs to keep their clear number one depth piece, and finally give Robertson the change of scenery he's been wanting since he got here.
Stop Playing Around with the Top Six
If the Leafs are serious about staying in this race, they need more than internal optimism; they need a legitimate, proven top-six winger.
Toronto showed clear interest in this type of player back in the summer of '24 when they were heavily connected to Jake DeBrusk before he ultimately signed with Vancouver. There was real traction there. The Leafs saw him as a fit alongside their core, a north-south winger who could forecheck, score 25+ goals, and handle playoff-style hockey. They didn't land him then, but the interest was not subtle.
Since then, Toronto has tried to patch the top six creatively, especially after losing Marner.
They've flirted with basically giving Matias Maccelli Mitch Marners' role, which is crazy to ask of him. They've experimented with pushing younger players like Easton Cowan up the lineup in short bursts. At times. It's worked in flashes, but flashes aren't the same as reliability.
That's why revisiting a proven option, with previous interest, makes sense.
A player like DeBrusk brings predictability, something this forward group has lacked outside of its elite core, and even sometimes within the core. He skates well enough to keep pace with high-end centers, he plays a playoff style of hockey that Brad Treliving has tried to instill with players like Nicolas Roy, Chris Tanev, and Dakota Joshua, and he doesn't need sheltered minutes to produce.
Having DeBrusk and Bobby McMann in the lineup would create very strong complementary depth. They both consistently provide scoring, size, and forechecking, which eases the pressure on younger players like Cowan and Maccelli, giving them a chance to grow into their roles rather than being forced into top-six minutes. Debrusk isn't a luxury addition; he's a structural upgrade that stabilizes the lineup.
If the Leafs are seriously going to re-tool, this is exactly the kind of upgrade that shifts the trajectory without blowing up the future.
Modernize the Blue Line
Toronto's defense has been a major pain point all season, not just because of injuries but because the roster lacks true mobility and puck-moving skill. With Morgan Rielly and Chris Tanev missing time, and secondary defencemen struggling to fill the hole, the Leafs need a long-term solution that also helps them stay competitive now.
That's where Pavel Mintyukov comes in. He's a young, mobile defenseman with offensive upside and the kind of two-way game the Leafs desperately need. Mintyukov can transition the puck effectively, jump up in the play, and play top-four minutes in a pinch; exactly the type of modern defensman who can support Toronto's core.
A trade for Mintyukov could realistically be structured around mid-tier assets or depth forwards like Robertson, plus a prospect. Toronto doesn't have first-round picks to offer, but his disgruntlement in Anaheim and a smart package could still get it done. There is also a reality where a package around Bradon Carlo gets a deal done, but I'm sure Toronto would rather give up Robertson. Mintyukov's age, upside, and term make him a strategic target rather than a luxury; he fills a structural hole while also giving the team flexibility on the back end to grow young prospects like Ben Danford.
Adding a player like Mintyukov wouldn't just patch up the immediate blue-line issues. Paired with acquiring DeBrusk upfront, it gives Toronto depth in every key area. Younger players can play their natural roles without being forced into the top-six, producing roles. It's a re-tooling move, not a rebuild, and it keeps the Leafs competitive while positioning them for sustainable success.
The Bottom Line
The Leafs' situation is not as dire as everyone is crying out that it is. They're only a few points out of a playoff spot, and a healthy, dialled stretch could change everything. The key is smart, strategic moves that improve the team now without mortgaging the future like Toronto has a history of doing.
Keep Bobby for depth and stability, and figure him out in the offseason. Move Robertson for assets that help fill gaps or bring in a proven top-six winger. Pursue a player like Jake DeBrusk to stabilize the forward group and relieve pressure on younger players like Cowan and Maccelli. As well as adding a mobile, modern defenseman like the dissatisfied Pavel Mintyukov to fix the blue line long-term.
These moves aren't a panic. They're calculated retooling, leveraging current assets to maximize competitiveness while giving the team room to grow. Depth, structure, and strategic upgrades can transform this roster from an injured, inconsistent group into a playoff-ready contender.
For the Maple Leafs, the post-Olympic stretch isn't a moment to hit the reset button. It's the time to act with a purpose, a chance to retool and unlock the full potential of the roster they already have. If they can pull something like this off, they're setting themselves up for sustainable success.