Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving finds himself defending head coach Craig Berube following a dismal start to the team’s season. While Treliving stated, “Craig Berube didn’t become a bad coach overnight,” the club’s performance, languishing in 15th place in the Eastern Conference, fuels skepticism about the team’s direction and the GM’s decisions.

The Maple Leafs’ recent overtime victory on Tuesday night offered a glimmer of hope, but it’s a small comfort for a team desperately seeking to reignite its season, especially with Auston Matthews sidelined. The absence of Mitch Marner from last summer’s trade deadline discussions also casts a shadow, though Treliving’s hands were reportedly tied by Marner’s no-movement clause and refusal to sign an extension, effectively blocking any potential blockbuster deal that could have seen him sent to Carolina for Mikko Rantanen.

Treliving’s Tenure: A Deep Dive into Roster Moves

Since taking the helm in May 2023, replacing Kyle Dubas, Treliving inherited a strong roster marred by playoff disappointments. His strategy often focused on bolstering the offensive powerhouses like Matthews, John Tavares, William Nylander, and Marner through free agency. The initial idea of one-year, prove-it deals for players like Max Domi and Tyler Bertuzzi seemed sound.

• Max Domi: Signed to a four-year extension at $3.75 million annually, Domi’s offensive output has been inconsistent, with only 33 points last season and a slow start this year, registering just 6 points.
• Tyler Bertuzzi: His one-year contract saw him amass 33 points last season, but his current performance is also underwhelming with only 6 points to date.
• John Klingberg: The defenseman was brought in on a one-year, $4.1 million deal but managed only 14 games due to injuries.
• Ryan Reaves: A three-year contract was handed to the veteran enforcer, a move that proved questionable. Reaves, 36, became a distraction and finished the second year of his contract in the American Hockey League before being traded to San Jose.
• David Kampf: The support center’s contract was mutually terminated. Treliving had signed Kampf to a four-year deal worth $2.4 million per season in 2023, but Kampf was playing in the AHL at the time of the separation.

Defensive Additions and Future Implications

In 2024, Treliving aimed to strengthen the backend by acquiring veteran defensemen.

• Chris Tanev: A six-year contract with an average annual value of $4.5 million was given to Tanev, a player with a solid reputation but in a limited defensive role. Concerns over his age (34) were amplified when he was recently stretchered off the ice after a collision, with his return date uncertain.
• Oliver Ekman-Larsson: This veteran acquisition has been a rare bright spot. The 34-year-old defenseman has cemented a spot on the top pairing and quarterbacks the first power-play unit, replacing Morgan Rielly. He has contributed 14 points in 20 games this season.

Trade Deadline Decisions and Draft Capital

At last spring’s trade deadline, Treliving made significant moves that impacted the team’s future draft picks:

• The Maple Leafs sent a 2026 first-round pick and prospect Fraser Minten to the Boston Bruins for defenseman Brandon Carlo. Carlo, 28, is currently injured but has performed adequately in a limited role. However, the loss of the first-round pick could prove costly if the Leafs’ struggles continue.
• Philadelphia received another first-round pick, this time in 2027, and winger Nikita Grebenkin in exchange for forward Scott Laughton. Laughton has been a disappointment since arriving in Toronto, tallying just 6 points in 35 games, including playoffs.

These decisions mean the Maple Leafs are unlikely to pick in the top two rounds of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft unless further trades are made. Treliving now faces the challenge of managing the organization’s growth, or potential decline, moving forward.