Dubas unsure what Leafs need ahead of deadline

SPORTSCENTRE Reporter

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The Maple Leafs practised at the Ford Performance Centre on Sunday.

Kyle Dubas isn't sure what the Leafs need ahead of the National Hockey League trade deadline. "We haven't yet had any stretch with the team that we thought we were going to have when we started out," the Leafs general manager said in his mid-season media availability. "I would like to give our team a chance to roll as it is constructed ... We want to take as much time as we can and use that to our benefit before deciding to do anything." Injuries and COVID have led to most teams being in the same spot as the Leafs. And Toronto, like most contenders, is constrained by the salary cap.  "When you go out and acquire somebody, you are probably done at that point," Dubas noted. "We probably don't have a whole lot of bullets in the chamber. We are going to have to pick and choose as we set our sights." Last year, Dubas acquired pending unrestricted free agent Nick Foligno from the Columbus Blue Jackets before the deadline. Due to quarantine rules, an injury and the reduced 56-game schedule, the gritty forward only ended up playing 11 total games (four in the playoffs) with the Leafs and did not score.  You can understand why Dubas prefers to add players with term remaining on their contract although the return to the 82-game schedule this season changes the dynamic. "Having a little bit more time this year, I am a little bit more open to it," Dubas said.  The trade deadline is March 21 and the playoffs will not start until May. 

Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas spoke about how he is approaching the NHL trade deadline on March 21, and expressed that he'd like to see the full roster get some more run before he starts making