Multi-player package trade brewing between Leafs and Flames!?

Rumour has it that Toronto and Calgary are still talking trade and the Maple Leafs are going after a package deal.
With less than a month to go ahead of the March 8 trade deadline, rumours have gotten louder that the Toronto Maple Leafs are planning a significant trade to shore up for the postseason. For months now, the Leafs have been linked to Calgary Flames defenseman Chris Tanev, who is the main target prior to the deadline with quite a few other teams calling about the blue liner.

However, there is a now a sense that Leafs general manager Brad Treliving could look to acquire the package of a defenseman, potentially Tanev, and a forward from Calgary in what could only be a blockbuster trade between Toronto and the GM’s former club.

The Flames are likely to be sellers at the deadline, already parting with a huge piece up front in Elias Lindholm who was moved to the Vancouver Canucks earlier this month.

The Maple Leafs need to cash in on this time with their star players like Auston Matthews and William Nylander playing extremely well, though a need for stronger defense and even maybe some secondary scoring looks necessary to compete in the playoffs. In Wednesday’s matchup, the scoring came from the Core Four only, which isn’t a bad thing, but we all know how these players haven’t had great luck in previous postseasons.

Elliotte Friedman reports how the Maple Leafs could be closing in on a deal even if it means parting ways with their first round round draft selection.

“One exception [to trading their 1st round pick] may be Toronto. If the Maple Leafs trade this year’s first, they will have one pick in the top two rounds of the next three drafts (a first-rounder in 2026). It’s not impossible they decide to move it, but they definitely prefer the opposite and aren’t interested in moving Easton Cowan, Matthew Knies or Fraser Minten (their most asked-about youth).”

As for Tanev, he is the top target on this year’s deadline and Friedman states that the defenseman is already fed up with all the rumours in the 32 Thoughts, written version:

“I can only imagine how tired Tanev is of this, already. There are a lot of teams interested in him, but it’s a unique market. There are teams who aren’t ready to win this year, but are determined to be a playoff team next year (Ottawa). There are teams who aren’t yet sure if rentals make sense for them (New Jersey). There are teams who like him but find it tricky cap-wise and trade-wise (Boston, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Vancouver). I suspect Dallas lurks, which makes a lot of sense. Undoubtedly, there are others I’m missing. He’s the Taylor Swift of trade deadline coverage.”

Tanev now has less than a month to go before he knows where he’s heading…

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