The Canadiens and Maple Leafs making a trade sounds unlikely. These bitter rivals have completed just three trades since 2000. Yet circumstances heading into the March 6 deadline could quietly push both organizations toward breaking that taboo.Montreal sits second in the Atlantic Division with 72 points through 58 games. The playoff push continues for GM Kent Hughes, who wants calculated reinforcement without sacrificing long-term assets. And Toronto, with 63 points in 57 games, might just be what the Canadiens need.
Maple Leafs Could Pivot to Selling To Recover From Disastrous Season
The Maple Leafs face critical decisions through the final weeks before the deadline. Their nine-point deficit is not insurmountable, but continued struggles could force management to pivot toward selling pending unrestricted free agents rather than chasing a playoff spot.Calle Järnkrok, Scott Laughton, Bobby McMann and Troy Stecher all become unrestricted free agents on July 1. None are franchise-altering players, but each offers depth and playoff versatility that contenders covet in March. Järnkrok provides reliable two-way play anywhere in the lineup, while Laughton brings grit and leadership. McMann adds a secondary scoring punch. Historical rivalry makes trades between these clubs difficult. The Maple Leafs acquired Doug Gilmour from Montreal for a sixth-round pick in 2003. Toronto obtained Mikhail Grabovsky for Greg Pateryn and a second-round pick in 2008. The Canadiens sent Tomas Plekanec and Kyle Baun to Toronto for Kerby Reichel, Rinat Valiev and a second-round pick in 2018. Three trades in over two decades show how rarely these rivals conduct business. No GM wants to gift a rival a playoff difference-maker. But pending unrestricted free agents represent different risk levels than core pieces with terms remaining on contracts. But Montreal acquiring one or two veteran depth players fits perfectly with their competitive window. The Canadiens are not in win-now-at-all-costs mode but want to strengthen a young core without disrupting long-term plans. Adding playoff-tested depth for reasonable prices makes strategic sense.Toronto recouping mid-round picks or depth prospects for players who might walk in July represents logical asset management. A third-round pick or young prospect from Montreal could prove more valuable than keeping a pending unrestricted free agent through a lost spring.The trade deadline arrives at 3 p.m. ET on March 6, following the Olympic roster freeze that ends February 22. Teams have two weeks after the Olympics to finalize deals. Montreal resumes play on February 26 against Ottawa, while Toronto returns February 25 versus Boston.Rivals rarely cooperate, but value alignment could produce a quiet deadline deal that looks minor in March but feels significant when the playoffs begin. If Toronto wants to climb from their seventh-place to a wildcard position, a trade might be the key after all.
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