NHL Rumors: Maple Leafs eyeing roster-for-roster trade after 5 straight losses, confirms Elliotte Friedman

The Toronto Maple Leafs are exploring a roster-for-roster trade after five straight losses. They lost 3-2 to Chicago after allowing a late goal. They lost 4-3 in overtime to Los Angeles. Boston beat them twice with the same 5-3 score. Carolina scored a 5-4 win in another close game.

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman discussed the situation on Saturday Headlines. He said the team does not want to trade prospects or draft picks.

"This is the best information I can share," Friedman said. "I don't think they want to trade futures. I really don't believe that they want to do that. And I include Easton Cowan in that, even though he's in the lineup tonight and might stick there. "I don't think that is down the road of what Toronto wants to do at all. What I'm hearing is that they want to make hockey trades, roster for roster, and they are exploring what on their roster has value, exactly what that value is, and if they can do something that way, roster for roster."

Friedman also mentioned that Toronto wants to avoid moving young forward Easton Cowan. Instead, the team is checking which roster players have trade value.

"We're not talking about the core," Friedman said. "We're talking other players on the roster, like the top core players, no, but we're talking other players on the roster. Who else has value that wouldn't be part of the Big Core?"

Friedman said the Leafs are not considering their core players in trade talks, which means Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares, and Matthew Knies. The team hopes a hockey trade can improve balance. They want to make changes without affecting their top talent.

Toronto Maple Leafs' performance drop and injuries

The Toronto Maple Leafs have had an inconsistent season so far. Their record is 8-9-2, and with their recent five-game losing streak, they have slid to seventh place in the Atlantic Division. The team scores 3.53 goals per game but allows 3.79. Their power play is below expectations this year, and their penalty kill is also average and needs improvement.

What makes things worse is that the Maple Leafs are also dealing with many injuries. Matthews, Chris Tanev, Anthony Stolarz, Scott Laughton, and Marshall Rifai are on injured reserve. Brandon Carlo is listed as day-to-day. Some players may return later in November, and the team hopes the lineup will stabilize soon.

The Maple Leafs believe a roster-for-roster trade could help address weaknesses. Meanwhile, the team will continue exploring options while trying to end their losing streak.

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Edited by Ankit Kumar