Tuesday FTB: losing in a shootout

Last night the Leafs lost to the Sharks on the second night of a back-to-back in a shootout A bad goal against and some residual sloppy play from the Penguins game probably was the difference.

Lots of scouts were at the game, the last Leafs home game before the trade deadline, against a definite seller.

Teams represented on the scout list for the #Leafs' last home game before the trade deadline: DAL, DET (3), LA, MIN, MTL, OTT, PIT, STL, TB, WAS, VAN
— Terry Koshan 🇺🇦 (@koshtorontosun) March 3, 2025

Evolving Wild have released their analysis of trade deadline players, namely who to get and who to avoid. Their umbrella for who might be traded is wide, so I forgive them for putting Ryan McLeod on the list.

Topi Niemelä has reportedly made a verbal agreement to join Lulea next season after his ELC with the Leafs expires.

His agent denies it, but that's what they all say every spring.

Topi Niemela’s agent Mika Rautakallio on the rumours of the Maple Leafs prospect signing in Lulea, Sweden: “No truth to this. Topi is 100% committed to playing in North America.”
— Joshua Kloke (@joshuakloke) March 3, 2025

Niemelä has had a few glimpses of decent play in the AHL, but that's mostly off the back of his good power play time. He mostly isn't able to earn that power play time and he's been at the bottom of the Marlies roster all season. I half-expected him to leave midseason, but that would be a fair bit of money left on the table.

The Leafs are sixth on these power rankings.

I can't lie, Brad Marchand on the Leafs would be hilarious and I kind of want to see it. Otherwise, the guys I'm interested in the Leafs acquiring are (in no particular order) Alex Tuch, Brock Nelson, Ryan Donato, Scott Laughton, Brandon Tanev, Trent Frederik, and maybe Jake Evans. I'd also like Jordan Oesterle from Boston, I think he fits what the Leafs want, is cheaper than who the Leafs have on another year of term, and Boston doesn't seem to play him very much.