Leafs talk: What should the Leafs do ahead of the trade deadline?

With the NHL trade deadline of the February 26th fast approaching, Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Lou Lamoriello will have to make some decisions for his team. The Leafs are in a good position right now with their record of 25-16-2, good for the third rank in the Atlantic division. They are only one point behind the Boston Bruins, but the Leafs have played three more games than the Bruins. The Detroit Red Wings are the closest team from them, but they're trailing the Leafs by 11 points. Lamoriello could try to add a couple of pieces to help his team for a long playoff run. Toronto would probably like to add a forward and a defenseman before the trade deadline, but for doing so, they will have to be willing to sacrifice some of their younger players, like Zach Hyman or Connor Brown, by example. 

Lamoriello could also be tempted to bring back a former Leafs in Toronto, after Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Cody Franson was placed on waivers on Monday. Franson played 236 games with Toronto between 2011 and 2015 before being traded back to the Nashville Predators, registering 104 points. In 23 games played with Chicago this season, the 30-year old defenseman has seven points, eight penalty minutes and a defensive differential of minus one. Franson is on a one year contract, for a total worth of $1M. He will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.

The Leafs are currently trying the Travis Dermott solution at the blue line, as the 21-year old defenseman played his first NHL game two nights ago against the Vancouver Canucks, registering his first NHL assist in a 3-2 shootout win. If Dermott proves he can play at the higher level, maybe Lamoriello and head coach Mike Babcock will feel good enough about their blue line for not going to search for extern help. If not, the Leafs could try to complete a deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins for defenseman Ian Cole. Toronto were linked in a lot of trade rumors involving the 28-year old defenseman, but nothing has been completed yet. Cole has seven points, 34 penalty minutes and a defensive differential of minus nine in 36 games played so far this season. 

The Maple Leafs are playing against the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight. The Jackets are currently third in the Metropolitan division with a record of 24-16-3. Frederik Andersen will get the start for the Leafs, and he will be facing Sergei Bobrovsky. 

Toronto won their last two games, and they are 5-4-1 in their last ten games. 

Columbus are 4-4-2 in their last ten games.