It’s almost as if the Leafs can’t have something good for once without holes being poked in it. For the longest time, centre depth was something Toronto couldn’t comprehend even if it smacked them in the nose, and now we’re entering a new season full of optimism thanks to the centre core of Auston Matthews, John Tavares, and Nazem Kadri. But as soon as 91 signed on the dotted line, the waves of ‘The Leafs should/need to trade ___________________’ grew to a higher level.

William Nylander has always been part of that conversation unfortunately, and we at PPP have appropriately stood up against it. However, I’ve noticed something over the last couple of days, something that’s really starting to grind my gears. I posed the question on Twitter yesterday and I’ll ask it here: why are we trading Kadri?

There are very few teams who can rival what the Leafs are going to be putting up. Off the top of my head I can only see Pittsburgh with Crosby, Malkin, and Brassard. Maybe to some extent Washington if you catch them on a good day. Besides them, there’s no one else.

I also understand the issue of ice time and how it may be challenging for Babcock to get Kadri out there to play enough. But we can’t forget that grooming Kadri into the player he is today has been Babs’ mission and he’s gotten back-to-back 30-goal seasons as a reward. Remember how good it was to have multiple 30-goal scorers? Yeah, Kadri was part of that at $4.5 million.

It just doesn’t make sense that because the Leafs have three very capable centres, that the obvious choice is to move one of them. How about we enjoy the good thing the Leafs have going for them right now. And that is the fact that every NHL coach is going to drive themselves nuts trying to match up against this team. That the depth down the middle on the Leafs is another strength that will be part of their identity moving forward.

Kadri doesn’t need to be moved and to be frank he shouldn’t be. So let’s shut down the ‘Let’s trade’ department for now, at least until something comes up where it’ll actually be necessary.

In Case You Missed It

Sportsnet Top 100 NHL Players - Toronto Maple Leafs - Pension Plan Puppets
Check out who on the Leafs made the cut. Personally, I think it was an ironic flick in the nose to see where they placed Andersen.

2018 Top 25 Maple Leafs Prospects Under 25: Morgan Rielly is #4 - Pension Plan Puppets
In his last year on the list, we can measure how much Morgan Rielly matters to the Maple Leafs.

Around the Hockey World

Movies beckon, but Clune still has role with Maple Leafs | Toronto Sun
Rich Clune could have departed pro hockey on a high, having beaten personal demons, raising the Calder Cup in his hometown, no longer a 30-something in a minor league room with some kids barely out of their teens.

Everyone Should Be Rooting for the Devils - All About The Jersey
The Lamoriello-era Devils were a closed book, a "boring" on-ice experience, and felt much like the old-boys club. The current Devils are exciting both on and off the ice. Everyone both in and out of NJ should find it very easy to root for this squad.

Leafs' Liljegren confident he's better than Dahlin ... at video games - Sportsnet.ca
Everything before the ellipses made me choke on my coffee.

Brodeur Returns to Devisl as Executive VP of Business Development - All About The Jersey
The best goaltender in franchise history will return to New Jersey to tackle a brand new challenge in growing the business side of New Jersey’s team.

Cydney Roesler is ready for challenge of being a Player-Coach - The Ice Garden
The big Canadian defender is excited about her new, unique role with the Connecticut Whale.

Semyon Der-Arguchintsev misses start of Petes scrimmages with thumb injury | ThePeterboroughExaminer.com
Giving this set of news a thumbs down.

Will Tyler Seguin become the John Tavares of 2018-19? – TheHockeyNews
No, because there can be only one. But it'll be interesting to see how the contract situation with Seguin plays out considering his "disappointment."

Mats Zuccarello: the case for and against him as Rangers Captain - Blueshirt Banter
My friend, you bow to no one.

Have a good Thursday Leafs fans!

From The Branches