In a recent revelation, the Toronto Maple Leafs narrowly avoided what could have been a detrimental trade, as reported by Elliotte Friedman during the Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Boston Bruins game on Hockey Night in Canada. General Manager Brad Treliving was on the verge of acquiring Nikita Zadorov and Chris Tanev from the Flames, but the deal fell through due to disagreements on compensation for Calgary retaining half of the duo’s salary.
Zadorov, known for his tendency to make mistakes, and Tanev, approaching 33, might not have been the ideal additions for the Leafs. The potential trade could have improved the blue-line on paper but posed problems, considering the age factor and the Leafs’ ongoing issues with older defensemen’s reliability.
The Leafs, with a strong record, were seemingly fortunate that this trade didn’t materialize. Zadorov, despite his name recognition, might not have justified his salary and could have hindered young players’ ice time. Tanev’s acquisition would have been reminiscent of previous decisions that brought in older players, such as Klingberg and Max Domi.
Critics argue that the Leafs should aim higher and utilize their limited cap space more wisely. Trading for Tanev and Zadorov, even with retained salary, might not have significantly addressed the Leafs’ main issue of relying on older defensemen higher in the lineup than advisable.
The potential trade, viewed by some as lazy and cliché, involved acquiring players from Treliving’s old team, which could have been a risky move. The Leafs, fortunately, remain in a good position due to their record and John Klingberg’s injury, sparing Treliving from potential criticism.
It becomes apparent that Treliving’s vision for the team is questionable, and the failed trade might be a blessing in disguise, giving him a do-over he possibly hasn’t earned.