Insider hints at major trade incoming for Maple Leafs

So, with the Maple Leafs set to be intriguing, as Dreger suggests — what can they do?

The intrigue Dreger alludes to comes from the team's approach to the deadline. If they want to go all-in and spend draft picks and prospects to win now, they could make some deals for Brayden Schenn, Brandon Tanev and Jamie Oleksiak.

All three would instantly improve Toronto's lineup in their ways. Schenn is an elite two-way center who can score, be a playmaker, kill penalties, produce in the playoffs, and is a Stanley Cup winner — with Craig Berube, nonetheless.

Tanev would add much-needed stability and grit to the bottom six while adding offensive potential, and Oleksiak can be Moran Rielly's shutdown defensive partner.

Those moves involve trading Fraser Minten, Easton Cowan, their top draft picks and whatever else necessary to get it done. It's a lot to pay, especially if Toronto gets sent home in the first round again.

Toronto can also go the quiet route and make smaller deals to shore up the holes in their lineup.

The team could pursue pieces like Jake Evans, Ryan Donato, Michael Kesselring or Mathieu Olivier — all cheap and reliable options. However, they don't offer the game-changing impact of Schenn and the others.

It depends on many other factors, such as Calle Jarnkrok's health and finances. If teams want to trade those pieces in the first place, general manager Brad Treliving has a lot of work to do.

But if Toronto is genuinely committed to its fans and ending a miserable 58-year Stanley Cup drought, it might be in its best interest to go for broke.