Absolutely sweet **** all. Big mistakes are made at the deadline every year. I think its becoming clear that the Leafs are in fact good enough to make the playoff but are they a top cup contender that should sell the farm this year. This team has gone through many changes this year the latest being the head coach. All the big contracts have loads of term so whats the panic this year. A patient season and busy offseason may be the best course of action. But we all know how crazy and impatient us Leaf fans are.

I was coming in here with an expectation of the usual Armchair GM trades. (Ceci for a 7th) (Kapanen for Gorgiev) ( Bracco and picks for Dillon).
I applaud you sir, and I very much agree with this assessment. A move might still happen, but it would be interesting to see what this current roster can do 100% healthy. Hopefully we get the opportunity when they make a playoff push/run!

Normally, I would probably agree, but the pressure of our division, and specifically from Florida, since I doubt the Leafs will catch either Tampa or Boston, might make the Leafs' GM do something, or multiple somethings, in order to try this team into the playoffs. Problem is, between a rash of injuries, bad/slow starts to games, nights where certain players just don't show up, there are potentially a lot of holes in this lineup need filling. Your argument is no rentals because rentals take away future assets, and I would agree, which is why I think you will see the Leafs make more of a hockey trade, where the Leafs may give up something significant but gain something significant and controllable in return.

The question for you, what happens when the Leafs aren't active from now until the trade deadline and miss the playoffs? Good teams have missed the playoffs before, and I think Toronto badly underestimated how improved Florida would be, along with quite a strong Metro division.

I understand the pressure to make the playoffs this year are crazy. However its probably more harmful to Dubas career then to the teams future success. Its very clear our defense prospect development is behind our fwd prospect development by a few years. If Sandin and Lilgegrin were both 25 years old would we be having this conversation. I agree with your hockey trade comment and that course does seem likely. My concern is that we are thinking the Leafs are ready to win now and i dont think they are. What are the Leafs? Ive watched every game and still see a diffent team almost every game. The rebuild of the Fwd group and the goalie is done but their defence is far from having stable consistent Leafs on term contracts and its proving to be a huge problem. With that being said February isnt the time to rebuild a d core and expect consistency.

My reply to your comment about Dubas' career is that he his "seat" becomes red hot if the Leafs don't make the playoffs this year. I'd even argue the outcome would be the same if the Leafs can't get themselves out of the first round. What the Leafs should be doing, at some point, is your their forward/offensive depth and strength to build up other areas. That is why I think Bracco is as good as gone this trade deadline. The fact that Marchment gets a call up before him tells me everything I need to know about how the Leafs view Bracco and where he stands on their depth chart. The Leaf's defensive problems, and that's not just talking about the defensemen, but the entire team's effort on the defensive side of the puck, leaves a ton to be desired and remains a work in progress. Based on the contracts handed out the last 2 summers, I think the Leafs believes themselves to be in "win-now" regardless of younger core group that we have. The icing on the cake for me was the Patrick Marleau deal to the Canes. A team that is still in transition, even after signing Jon Tavares, does not give a beloved 1st rounder away to take on a contract of a character guy like that unless the team believes it has a become a true contender. Your note that goalie is done I would say is not correct. Yes, Anderssen has been great, mostly, but I would say 5 consecutive losses from a backup goalie when this season is so important is simply unacceptable. I would think that if there were any rental deals, or any deals at all, the Leafs would bring in a quality 1B (like Lehner) or backup (like Gorgiev).