Brad Treliving Under Scrutiny

TORONTO (Azat TV) – The Toronto Maple Leafs’ playoff aspirations are rapidly diminishing in late January 2026, placing General Manager Brad Treliving under intense scrutiny as the NHL trade deadline approaches. With the team facing a daunting schedule, significant injuries, and a recent string of losses, speculation is mounting that Treliving may be forced to become a seller rather than a buyer, a decision that could directly impact his tenure amid high expectations from new Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) president Keith Pelley.

As of Tuesday, January 27, 2026, the Maple Leafs are languishing as the 20th-best team in the NHL, projected for only 90 points and holding a mere 25.9 percent chance of making the postseason, according to The Athletic. This grim outlook follows a dismal 1-4-2 record in their last seven outings, including four consecutive home losses, a stark contrast to their brief resurgence post-Christmas break.

Maple Leafs’ Playoff Hopes Dwindle Amidst Struggles

The current state of the Maple Leafs marks a significant downturn from their 108-point season last year. Despite an initially favorable, home-heavy schedule, Toronto posted just 15 wins in their first 35 games. While a 9-1-3 run briefly reignited playoff hopes, the team’s recent slump has effectively halved their odds, pushing them five points behind the final wild-card spot, their largest gap since Boxing Day.

The road ahead is particularly challenging. Nineteen of the Leafs’ remaining 29 games are on the road, including matchups against formidable opponents such as the Edmonton Oilers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers, and Minnesota Wild. This demanding schedule, coupled with an aging and injury-riddled roster that has seen key players like William Nylander and Chris Tanev sidelined, makes a late-season surge appear almost insurmountable. Hockey analyst James Mirtle, writing for The Athletic, noted that the team ‘looks both out of sorts and out of gas.’

Treliving’s Dilemma: Buyer or Seller at the Deadline?

The traditional NHL trade deadline debate of ‘buyers’ versus ‘sellers’ has become particularly acute for the Maple Leafs. Reinforcements, Mirtle argued, were needed months ago when the team’s defensive struggles were evident, with players like Troy Stecher and Oliver Ekman-Larsson logging heavy minutes. The front office, under Treliving, has been perceived as largely inactive, making only three waiver claims (Stecher, Cayden Primeau, Sammy Blais) and failing to execute any significant trades, even as the Olympic roster freeze upped the urgency for other teams. This inaction, many analysts suggest, has cost them dearly.

With playoff chances fading, a growing chorus of hockey analysts, including those cited by The Times of India, are suggesting the Maple Leafs embrace a seller role. This would entail offloading assets to acquire draft picks and prospects, while simultaneously freeing up significant cap space for the 2026-27 season. Potential trade candidates identified by various reports include pending unrestricted free agents such as Scott Laughton, Bobby McMann, Troy Stecher, and Calle Järnkrok. More significant assets like Oliver Ekman-Larsson could also be dangled to reset the team’s composition for the future, aiming for a younger, hungrier roster.

Job Security and Future Expectations

General Manager Brad Treliving’s position appears tenuous, despite having another year left on his contract. New MLSE president Keith Pelley has reportedly set sky-high expectations for all Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment franchises, particularly after the success of the Blue Jays last fall. The Leafs Nation highlighted concerns about Treliving’s legacy, citing perceived failures in replacing superstars and underwhelming attempts to remake the Leafs’ roster since his arrival.

The perceived paralysis within the front office throughout the season, coupled with what The Athletic described as a series of ‘pro scouting misses,’ raises questions about the organization’s ability to effectively execute a major selling strategy. The upcoming Olympic break for the Milano Cortina 2026 Games could serve as a critical juncture for the organization to reassess its course, especially given that only three Maple Leafs (Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and Ekman-Larsson) are Olympians, allowing other battered players a crucial 21-day rest period.

The confluence of a rapidly deteriorating season, mounting injury concerns, and high-stakes organizational expectations places Brad Treliving at a pivotal crossroads. His decision on whether to pursue a strategic sell-off at the trade deadline will not only define the Maple Leafs’ immediate future but also serve as a definitive litmus test for his leadership and potentially his long-term viability with the franchise.