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UPDATE - The Leafs have recalled defenseman Travis Dermott and center Frederik Gauthier from the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs will get back to work after their five-day break with a Monday afternoon practice at the MasterCard Centre to prepare for the final game of their six-game home stand against the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday.

The Leafs have gone .500 (8-8-2) since the beginning of December and do not appear to be in danger of falling out of the final Atlantic Division playoff spot, but at this point would be an underdog against potential first and second round opponents Boston and Tampa Bay unless GM Lou Lamoriello is able to significantly upgrade the club’s thin defense before the NHL trade deadline, which could cost a number of young prospects and/or a high draft pick.

In spite of the odds being slim that the Leafs would go in this direction, if Lamoriello decided to become a seller before February 26 and shop the club’s unrestricted free agents and others with limited term left on their contracts, what could they get in return???

For those who believe to be is a ridiculous scenario, Toronto will probably make the post-season even if they moved some of their veterans, it would give the club’s young prospects playing time in the last quarter of the season and playoffs to prove themselves and earn a job for next season and it would give the Leafs more assets in the summer that they could use in deals to address the club’s areas of need.

Veterans with expiring contracts such as Dominic Moore, Roman Polak and Eric Fehr would bring little back in terms of draft picks and prospects, but would open up space on the roster.

The Leafs have played former first rounder Frederik Gauthier every game on the current home stand and appear to be giving the big center a chance to steal the fourth line job away from Moore, who is still effective at 37 years old and makes $1 Million this season.

Polak has been a fixture on the bottom pairing because of head coach Mike Babcock’s level of comfort and trust in the veteran, but the impressive debut of Travis Dermott could put Polak in the press box if the Leafs want to give the 21-year-old rookie a longer look.

Fehr was waived and sent to the San Diego Gulls of the American Hockey League in November and has 11 goals in 21 games for the Anaheim Ducks affiliate, which could mean that an NHL team looking for veteran depth could express interest if the Leafs retained salary.

The big three (James van Riemsdyk, Tyler Bozak and Leo Komarov) would bring back a more significant return. Although the number of teams poised to be sellers appears to be higher than normal, the rental market is not particularly deep when it comes to top six forwards.

Van Riemsdyk according to various reports is looking for at least a six-year deal in the neighborhood of $6 Million per season, which might be something that Toronto could afford if they can re-sign William Nylander to a bridge deal coming off his entry-level contract.

If the Leafs think that is too pricey or have confidence that they can move the big winger as a rental and re-sign him as a free agent in the summer, they would likely be able to ask for more than the Buffalo Sabres are looking to get for Evander Kane, which is a prospect, 1st round pick and a conditional lower pick.

Bozak has slipped from his career-high 55 points last season, but is an effective depth center that can win face-offs and play special teams that teams looking for help up the middle may covet. The 31-year-old could get a high conditional draft pick and a mid-level prospect in return.

Komarov is another Babcock favorite that has the sandpaper that many teams are looking for around playoff time. It is questionable whether Toronto will re-sign the 30-year-old with speedier youngsters like Kapanen, Andreas Johnsson or Carl Grundstrom in the pipeline and his intangibles could bring back as much as a second round pick.

Players with a year left on their contracts, such as Curtis McElhinney and Jake Gardiner could also be trade candidates. With teams looking to add an experienced backup before the deadline, the Leafs could move out the 34-year-old McElhinney with Calvin Pickard a more-than-adequate replacement waiting in the wings with the Marlies.

Gardiner has a year remaining at $4.025 Million and his availability all depends on whether the Leafs believe they can get him re-signed to a favorable cap hit or if they want to extend him at all.

The 27-year-old could be used as a primary piece in a trade to acquire a defenseman like Jacob Trouba in the summer (if the Jets do not believe they can get him re-signed), but a move at the deadline would require Toronto getting a younger blueliner who they can retain long-term.

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