Bad Team or Just Playing Badly? Maple Leafs' Crisis Deepens as Treliving's Options Dwindle

It's the question every fan is asking: Are the Toronto Maple Leafs a bad team, or are they just playing badly?

The results speak for themselves. The team currently sits a dismal 28th overall in the NHL standings and is riding a five-game losing streak. After Saturday night's 3-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, the search for "moral victories" began—the only kind of victory this team has been able to find recently.

Treliving's Hands Are Tied on the Trade Market

General Manager Brad Treliving has a reputation around the NHL as one of the most active individuals on the trade market. However, that activity has rarely translated into action, and the Leafs now find themselves in a very tough spot.

According to NHL Insider Chris Johnston, things have gotten so bad in Toronto that the team no longer feels they can trade their way out of this slump.

Johnston reported the organization believes that they are more than just a couple of pieces away from contention. So much so, that the organization is now gauging the market for possible returns on a number of players.

“They are open to a lot of things. I think they are gauging the market on a number of players on the roster. I'm not talking about the very top guys but let's say second tier and down.”

The Failed "Depth" Experiment

This is a stunning development. After making the controversial decision to move on from Mitch Marner this summer, the team tripled down on "depth." The additions of Nic Roy, Dakota Joshua, and Mattias Marcelli have all produced varying levels of results.

Now, less than six months later, the organization finds itself stuck between a rock and a hard place.

The Doomsday Draft Scenario

Compounding the problem is the team's draft pick situation. Due to aggressive buying at last year's trade deadline, the team finds itself without a first-round pick for at least the next two years.

There is, however, one dreadful caveat: if the team can finish in the bottom five, they will retain their first-round pick in the upcoming draft. While the prospect of tanking may not be the most appealing to the franchise, it may be the only realistic option.

Finishing outside of the playoffs but above the bottom five presents the worst-case scenario: the team's first-round pick would be sent to a divisional rival. This is an outcome the Maple Leafs must avoid at all costs. With injuries mounting and the team struggling to keep the puck out of its own net, few options remain.

It's hard to believe that in just two years, Brad Treliving has managed to slam the door shut on the Maple Leafs' competitive window.