Maple Leafs unusually quiet as NHL trade frenzy hits early

TORONTO — Their record is loud, but the trade noise is muted.

Despite the Toronto Maple Leafs reeling off another victory, improving to a sparkling 14-4 over their past 18 games, and reinforcing their ability to gather points even on nights when they look "a little gun shy" (as Sheldon Keefe put it), the decision-makers up top have yet to pull the trigger.

With the NHL's trade deadline less than 40 hours away and his team as healthy and humming as it has been all season, general manager Brad Treliving has adopted the same approach his players assumed in Wednesday's low-octane 2-1 overtime win over the forever-retooling Buffalo Sabres, who traded away their leading scorer between morning skate and puck drop.

Caution. Patience. 

Bordering on boredom.

And while we won't evaluate Treliving's trade work until the clock hits 3:01 p.m. ET on Friday, the idea that the executive is cooking up something much splashier than last week's unsexy yet economical addition of defenceman Ilya Lyubushkin feels fading.

A frenzied business day saw top-ranked rentals Noah Hanifin, Sean Walker, Adam Henrique and Alexander Wennberg fly off the shelf. All players could have improved Toronto's roster; all sold for prices Treliving either wouldn't or couldn't pay; all landed with more aggressive teams with a sturdy belief this could be their year.

Another person of interest for Treliving, rugged righty and ex-Leaf Zach Bogosian, decided to re-sign for two years in Minnesota instead of changing addresses again. And Nick Seeler took himself off the block by re-upping in Philadelphia.

The early trade wave of defencemen (Nikita Zadorov, Chris Tanev) and middle-six centres (Elias Lindholm, Sean Monahan) passed Toronto by, too, despite Treliving's tire-kicking.

Names are falling off the trade board. Options are drying up.

Part of this is cyclical.

The Maple Leafs were arguably the most aggressive team at the 2023 deadline, as former GM Kyle Dubas overhauled a chunk of the dressing room before leaving town and Treliving without any second-round picks. You can't push all-in every time the dealer glances your way.

Part of this may be strategic.

Treliving, remember, waited out the rush of July 1 free agency before nabbing second-liners Tyler Bertuzzi and Max Domi at what was then viewed as reasonable price points. Simon Benoit and Martin Jones, timely contributors to the group, weren't signed till August.

Because the executive has so thoroughly explored the defence market (primarily) and depth forward market (secondarily), the bet is he feels comfortable riding out the rush and will instead seek value as the sellers don't want to get caught holding the bag.

"I think you just leave it to Brad. A lot of moves happened today, and the next couple days will be pretty hectic," said Auston Matthews, now on pace for 72 goals after his OT winner. 

"I think we’re all aware and there’s chat about it, but it's not too deep. A lot of things can happen."

Added the game's other goal-getter, William Nylander: "Whatever they do, we'll be ready for that."

The Maple Leafs’ direct competitors have been much noisier this week, with powerhouse Florida snapping up Vladimir Tarasenko, Tampa Bay making a pitch for Hanifin, and centre-hungry Boston rumoured to be exploring a Lindholm flip with Vancouver.

Maybe this is not the spring to get overly aggressive in Toronto. The prices have been high, the true difference-makers scarce, and Treliving is sitting at the high-ante table with a short stack.

Unless Toronto’s GM is hiding an ace up his sleeve, we could well be in for a low-event trade deadline in a high-pressure city.

Fox's Fast Five

• By trading away Casey Mittelstadt, Buffalo has beefed up on young, left-shot defencemen for the foreseeable future.

Rasmus Dahlin, 23, is signed through 2031-32; Owen Power, 21, is locked up through 2030-31; and now Bowen Byram, 22, is in the fold through 2024-25, at which point he'll still an RFA under club control.

Of the three, Dahlin is the most comfortable patrolling the right side.

• Slowly, Toronto's defence is getting healthy... kind of.

Rebounding from mono, Conor Timmins returned to practice Tuesday.

And Mark Giordano, who suffered a head injury last week crashing into the end-boards, has been on the ice for two consecutive days. He is not yet clear for contact, and the team has not provided a timeline for his return.

"First time sitting next to him in the room. He's a good talker," Simon Benoit smiles. "Everything he says is full of experience. I'm just trying to take his tricks and bring it to my game."

Trouble is, Jake McCabe has fallen ill and was unable to play against his original team Wednesday. He's hopeful for Thursday in Boston.

• Benoit has acquired a new nickname in the dressing room: The Milkman. 

"I just always love milk. I dunno. I like the taste. Comforting," says Benoit, while nursing a mug of flat white after morning skate. "A glass of milk with, like, a good chocolate cake is always good. Just a taste I enjoy. I love milk."

Any time of day, too. The bruising defenceman will pound a glass at night if he's having trouble sleeping. With one stipulation: It must be cold.

• Matthew Knies has 31 penalty minutes. That's too many for a winger who spends most of his time in the offensive zone.

"I gotta stay out of the box. I'm taking a lot of stick penalties and it's hurting the team," Knies says. "I gotta move my feet and play with hands less. Stop reaching."

Keefe suggests that college grads, in general, are less aware of high sticks because everyone's face is protected in the NCAA. 

"When you've got a cage on, you're a little more reckless," Keefe said. "Those are the kind of things you learn over time."

• Noah Gregor drew back into the Leafs' lineup, in favour of Pontus Holmberg, after a two-week string of healthy scratches.

"If you want to play in the league every day on a good team, you have to bring it all the time," Keefe said of Holmberg. "To me, he's slipped a little bit."