The Maple Leafs pulled out the kind of high-octane, dominant drubbing they’re expected to produce when lined up across from a resident of the league’s basement.

While there’s no question an absurd bounce gifted Toronto a game-winner, it’s the bigger picture that matters most to these Leafs. The approach that carried the home side to a nice win Wednesday is something to build on.

The Maple Leafs needed a statement game. Instead, their coach called for more urgency after a game that saw Toronto fall flat again, finishing on the wrong end of the Battle of Ontario.

Thursday night, under the Scotiabank Arena lights, the Maple Leafs got a chance to see how they measure up against the league’s elite, with the defending champion Florida Panthers coming to town to battle over the Atlantic crown.

What the Capitals' success this season — and that of previous Stanley Cup winners — is that the most important business is done in the off-season. As Sonny Sachdeva explains, champions are built in the summer, rarely in March.

We’ve seen plenty of business handled by general managers ahead of this week's NHL trade deadline. With that in mind, Sonny Sachdeva takes a look at a few buyers who have meaningful cap space to work with as the big day looms.