The time is now for Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving to go all in.

Toronto continues to be a force in the Eastern Conference, pushing towards the top spot in the Atlantic Division. With the type of game-breaking goaltending they have in place with the duo of Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll, along with the team’s structure under head coach Craig Berube, this is the best chance the Maple Leafs have had of winning the Stanley Cup since the Mats Sundin era.

Stolarz and Woll are capable of stealing hockey games, and for once, the Leafs could ‘goalie’ an opposing team in a playoff series. Up front, the core forwards are leading the charge in a major way and aren’t showing any signs of slowing down anytime soon. And with Bobby McMann and Matthew Knies having breakout seasons, they’ve become the secondary scoring source the team has craved for several years.

On the back end, Jake McCabe has flourished into a top-pair blueliner, and while he’s better suited to be a #3 on the second pair, right now, he’s doing his part to carry the load and allow Morgan Rielly a chance to work out his game. Chris Tanev has been everything as advertised and will be fun to watch during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Oliver Ekman-Larsson has had his moments, but all in all, he has been a great addition to the Leafs’ blue line. And while there’s plenty to like about this 33-19-2 hockey club, Treliving should be willing to part with whatever he needs to land a couple of pieces ahead of the March 7 trade deadline.

The Maple Leafs need another centre. It’s been well-advertised this year that Treliving’s trying to land one, and he should be willing to part with the likes of Easton Cowan or Fraser Minten in order to acquire an impact player. No, he shouldn’t move either top prospect for a rental, but if Treliving can acquire a centre who is in his prime, with term left on his contract, the Leafs’ GM should be willing to part with one of his best prospects. Dylan Cozens of the Sabres is available, Brayden Schenn in St. Louis is drawing buzz, and to a lesser degree, Scott Laughton could be an option out of Philadelphia.

Toronto should also be trying to land a two-way defenceman. They don’t necessarily need a top-pair blueliner, but finding an experienced, proven d-man who immediately slots into their top four could provide the Leafs’ blueline with a more balanced attack from an offensive lens and provide much-needed depth heading into the postseason. Having four solid defencemen isn’t enough. We’ve seen the injury bug hammer Toronto this season, and there’s no doubt the Leafs need at least one more proven NHLer as an option on the back end.

Outside of Minten and Cowan, the Leafs don’t own their 2025 first-round pick but could be open to moving their 2026 pick. If adding a first-rounder is going to be a dealbreaker to land a centre with term on their contract, Treliving needs to strongly consider it. Dennis Hildeby is also someone who has drawn a ton of trade interest in the past, and with Stolarz and Woll in their prime, the Leafs’ GM should be listening to offers for his 23-year-old netminder, who is 7-2-2 in the AHL this season.

Whether it’s the 2026 first-round pick, Cowan or Minten, or a combination of those and some filler, Treliving and the Maple Leafs’ brass shouldn’t be married to any of these trade assets. Toronto is one or two pieces away from going from Stanley Cup contender to Stanley Cup favorite. The time is now to go all in.