Maple Leafs forced to make huge sacrifice ahead of trade deadline

The Toronto Maple Leafs are in a win-now mode and general manager Kyle Dubas knows he needs to get his team over the first-round hump and make sure all voids are filled ahead of the trade deadline to ensure a long playoff run.

When it was first believed that the Maple Leafs would focus on bolstering the back end ahead of the March 3rd deadline, Dubas is now targeting help up front while getting a look at the defense market, but is also rumoured to consider adding goalie insurance with Matt Murray injured again.

However, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman tells it like it is: the Maple Leafs cannot fix the offense and defense, and on top, get security in between the pipes.

“I don’t think Toronto trades for a goalie unless the Leafs are convinced it’s a better option than what they have in the NHL or even the AHL. The Maple Leafs have limited cap space and trade capital. Going for a goalie makes it harder to do other things. They want to add both on defence and up front.”

Elliotte Friedman in his latest 32 Thoughts column on Sportsnet 

It feels like Ilya Samsonov cannot shoulder the load and come out strong in the postseason.

With Dubas looking to make a splash on the trade market ahead of March 3rd, but also with many areas to upgrade ahead of the postseason, you just know the Maple Leafs will need to make a tough call and a huge sacrifice ahead of the deadline.
What’s the right call? You add up front, back end or in net?

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