Maple Leafs’ GM Treliving preferring to look deeper than make a trade

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Brad Treliving isn’t necessarily burning up the phone lines, hoping to find a trade partner among the other 31 National Hockey League general managers.

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Treliving’s job description includes trying to make the Maple Leafs better at all times, not just when there are injuries, but he wouldn’t say on Tuesday if he is actively trying to trade for a forward, it not a centre.

“We’ve got a chance also to see the kind of depth we have,” Treliving said. “Fraser Minten gets an opportunity. (Alex) Steeves is up. He’s going to get an opportunity.

“This is where your organizational depth gets tested. We like that we have depth. You always have (trade) conversations. This gives other people an opportunity to see what we’ve got in the organization.”

In a perfect, injury-free world, Minten probably wouldn’t be with the Leafs.

“To be perfectly honest, I would have preferred to leave him down there (with the Toronto Marlies) for a little bit longer, just to stabilize,” Treliving said. “You have to be careful, especially with young guys, bumping them up and down. He’s coming off the injury, but he’s having a great start.”

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Minten has four points in five games with the Marlies after his season got a late beginning because of the sprained ankle he suffered in a rookie game in September. Already, though, the 20-year-old had thrust himself into the Leafs conversation and the possibility of being recalled. That happened on Tuesday when David Kampf was placed on injured reserve.

“What jumps out is his hockey IQ,” Treliving said in regard to Minten. “He talks on the bench like a coach. He’s really intelligent, sees the ice, knows the game. We’ll give him a look-see here. We think he’s got a great future in front of him.”

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