TORONTO (Dec. 13) — For the first time in the modern history of the National Hockey League, the second–best defenseman on the planet came up for trade. Naturally, Quinn Hughes landed someplace other than here: the lazy, never–assume–risk world of the Maple Leafs. Hughes, at 26, is still two years shy of entering his biological prime. He went from Vancouver to Minnesota for Marco Rossi (career–best 24 goals last season); Israeli–born Zeev Buium (13 points in 31 games this season); Liam Oghren (zero points in 18 games) and a 2026 first–round draft choice. A decent package for a player that evidently had to be expelled from the rot of the 2025–26 Canucks.
But, apart from the first–round pick, it was hardly a haul the Maple Leafs could not have matched, or bettered, were the somnolent locals interested in actually winning something. Instead, general manager Brad Treliving probably recoiled in horror when the Canucks mentioned the likes of Matthew Knies and Easton Cowan. Can’t trade the future for the present… even when the future is nearly 60 years late. So, a half–century after Borje Salming last provided the Leafs a Norris Trophy type, Treliving and Co. will continue to move on without anything that resembles an elite blue–liner; Morgan Rielly (sigh) remaining the defacto No. 1. Hughes, second on Earth among defenseman to Cale Makar (of Colorado), wouldn’t have placed an extra fanny in the seats at Scotiabank Arena. So what if he’s put up seasons of 92, 76, 76 and 68 points? The Leafs have Henry Thun and Troy Stecher.
There’s no need, here, to pursue a future Hall of Famer. Stand pat, instead, with a sick, aging and leaderless defense, as in virtually every year since the late Salming offered skill and direction from the back end. Hey, pitchers and catchers report to Dunedin in nine weeks. At which time, Ed the Conqueror, owner of everything sport in our city, will be in his element. His stagnant hockey team? It sells all tickets no matter who wears the jersey.
Young Leaf fans, in particular, will be thrilled that Hughes went to a rival NHL team. The mere notion of losing Knies and/or Cowan would create anger and torture among those who know absolutely nothing about success beyond mid–April. Heck, Auston is still around. Willie, too. And, the old, reliable Johnny T. So what if the Leafs can no longer rely on China Doll Stolarz between the pipes. Or, that Chris Tanev is crippled after all his physical depreciation. Stay with Rielly as “leader” of the blue line. It’s been only 22 years since the Maple Leafs appeared in the Conference final. What’s another three or four? Certainly, not worth any form of personnel risk. Or managerial creativity. Simply take a pass. No one will complain; perhaps not even notice. Somewhere down the line — four of five GMs and coaches in the future — maybe it will dawn on Leafs management that a Stanley Cup contender builds from the goal out, not the forwards back. Those running the Toronto franchise have brazenly and fruitlessly stuck with their retrograde plan for as long as most can remember. Certainly, since corralling the Big 3 draft choices of Nylander, Marner and Matthews. Why seek another plan after only a decade of post–season humiliation? The “window” is still open. What could Quinn Hughes possibly provide in the absence of Knies and Cowan?
I write this blog with tongue in cheek, simply because nothing ever changes with the Leafs. It never needs to, regardless of championship droughts or teams with no hope of winning the Stanley Cup. Going hard after the sort of player that almost NEVER comes up in trade dialogue is neither required nor expected. That’s for Minnesota to accomplish — a team that entered the NHL in 2000, only 33 years after Toronto’s last Cup conquest. Better to write and think that the Leafs could never have offered Wild GM Bill Guerin such a stellar package for Hughes.
Look around on line. No reporter would dare waste time questioning whether the Leafs made a half–hearted attempt for Hughes. Everyone knows the answer. Spouting excuses offers warm comfort to Toronto hockey zealots. In such a stale, yet contented, environment, why should management even consider assuming risk? Knies could score 40 goals some day. Cowan might be another McJesus. Hang on to them. Surely, some 35–year–old blue–line retread will be on the market at the trade deadline. Then, the Maple Leafs will once again go “all in.”
It’s the Toronto way. Has been, forever. With easily predictable results.
MORE OF THE EXPORT MLG CALENDARS…
LOOKING, TODAY, AT THE EXPORT BARBER SHOP CALENDARS OF 1968–69 AND 1971–72.
THE 1967–68 LEAFS WERE SUCH AN EMBARRASSMENT — FINISHING BELOW .500 AGAINST THE SIX NHL EXPANSION TEAMS — THAT THE SEASON WASN’T EVEN PRINTED ABOVE THE TEAM PHOTO.
THE HOME OPENER (OCT. 16 vs. PITTSBURGH) IS STILL REMEMBERED FOR A TANTRUM THROWN BY ROOKIE LEAFS DEFENSEMAN JIM DOREY, WHO COMPILED A THEN–RECORD 48 PENALTY MINUTES.
THE CANADIENS WERE IN THE MIDST OF THEIR “FORGOTTEN” DYNASTY — FOUR STANLEY CUP TITLES (1965–66–68–69) THAT OCCURRED BETWEEN THE RECORD HAUL OF FIVE (1956–60) AND THE FOUR–IN–A–ROW DYNASTY (1976–79) OF THE SCOTTY BOWMAN, GUY LAFLEUR ERA. HAD THE LEAFS NOT UPSET THE HABS IN 1967, MONTREAL WOULD HAVE EQUALED ITS EXISTING PLAYOFF RECORD.
A NUMBER OF FUTURE LEAFS WERE PART OF THE CENTRAL HOCKEY LEAGUE CHAMPION OF 1967–68 IN TULSA, OKLAHOMA. INCLUDING GOALIE AL SMITH, COACH JOHN McLELLAN, DEFENSEMEN PAT QUINN AND JIM DOREY; FORWARDS GERRY MEEHAN AND MIKE BYERS. AND, TRAINER JOE SGRO.
FUTURE NHLers RICK LEY (CAPTAIN, FIRST ROW), TOM WEBSTER (ALTERNATE, TO LEY’S RIGHT), PHIL MYRE (GOALIE AT FAR LEFT), PHIL ROBERTO AND DON TANNAHILL LED NIAGARA FALLS FLYERS OF THE OHA JUNIOR ‘A’ TO THE 1967–68 MEMORIAL CUP CHAMPIONSHIP.
FIRST AND SECOND NHL ALL–STAR TEAMS IN THE FIRST YEAR OF EXPANSION.
FOR THE 1970–71 SEASON, THE LEAFS COMPLETELY REVAMPED THEIR UNIFORMS. THE “HAROLD BALLARD” JERSEYS, AS THEY WERE KNOWN, LASTED 22 YEARS, THROUGH 1991–92.
THE 1971–72 SEASON BEGAN IN VANCOUVER AND OAKLAND. THE HOME OPENER (OCT. 13 vs. DETROIT) WAS POSTPONED AFTER LEAFS OWNER STAFFORD SMYTHE DIED OF A BLEEDING ULCER.
VETERAN GOALIE JACQUES PLANTE, IN HIS FIRST YEAR WITH THE LEAFS, MADE THE SECOND ALL–STAR TEAM FOR 1970–71 WITH A CAREER–BEST 1.88 GOALS–AGAINST AVERAGE.
GOOD LORD, I’M OLD: MY BAR MITZVAH WAS ON FEB. 5, 1972 AS THE LEAFS HOSTED PHILADELPHIA.
EMAIL: HOWARDLBERGER@GMAIL.COM
The leafs trade a top five scorer and receive Nick Roy. The leafs trade two firsts and two prospects and obtain mediocre players Laughton and Carlo. The Bruins trade two firsts and a goalie prospect and obtain Marchand and Jones ( difference makers for sure).
The Wild trade three average prospects and a first and obtain the second best dman on the planet.
I tend to think that any package the leafs would have given, had Rutherford accepted a trade proposal from Toronto would have resulted in him being fired in Vancouver. Knies, Cowan, their 2028 first round pick and some coupons for the snack bar would likely be the best they could do. That aside, you’re STILL right about the lackadaisical, top-down mismanagement of this organization for decades.
Take a look at their anointed savior/captain. One of the highest paid players in the league and currently with a points total around #100. He’s a no-show most nights and a ghost the rest of them. Yet there is nary a word about it in the media, blah-blah-blah he’s “so good defensively.” MY ARSE HE IS! And don’t they employ 3rd line checking centres for that role? The team is a hopeless mess, and the ball is in Keith Pelly’s court. Unfortunately he thinks it’s a golf ball.
Enjoyed the old team calendars and photos. As a resident of Tulsa, the Oilers team photo was especially cool. I once met a man who said he had been a scout for the Flyers in the 1970s–he let me try on his Stanley Cup ring! Pat Quinn had just started his tenure behind the Leafs’ bench, and I mentioned being a Toronto fan and how happy I was with how the team had responded. The guy looks at me and says, Pat Quinn. I hate that mean son of a bitch. As the story goes, this guy was working as a linesman in the CHL and pulled Quinn out of a scrap. Quinn then turned and kicked him in the shin (the linesman wasn’t wearing shinguards). I can’t remember the man’s name, but the story tracks.
The Big 3 draft choices of Nylander, Marner and Matthews have been an almost 10 year embarrassment as far as I’m concerned. None of them are leaders, they’re all soft, fair-weather and tend to disappear in challenging games. I will not miss any of them when they are gone. Trade them anytime, please.
You’re absolutely right, you’ve been right all along, Howard. The Leafs are going absolutely nowhere with the likes of Matthews & Reilly on the ice, and Treliving off it. Only a delusional madman would claim otherwise. And thank you for your longstanding candor in a market starved for it.
only a gm that is willing to lose a job makes this deal. no signed deal beyond this season.he may walk come summer and join the Devils. also the Leafs do not have assets that most teams want or need not to mention no first round draft picks.
I would have traded both of them to get a top 5 NHL dman who is only 26