Report: Leafs interested in blockbuster trade involving Rangers veteran

According to a report from New York Rangers insider Arthur Staple, the Toronto Maple Leafs have interest in acquiring veteran forward Mika Zibanejad via trade this offseason.

From Staple via The Athletic:

"There’s a chance that Drury has already worked it out with Zibanejad, who has five years at a $8.5 million average annual value remaining plus a full no-move clause, that moving on would be best. They’d still need to find a fit —the Leafs have some interest and some space to fill — but trading Kreider’s BFF soon after dealing Kreider would produce the impact on cap flexibility and team culture Drury so badly wants."

Kreider, of course, was shipped to the Anaheim Ducks last week. Ditto for Jacob Trouba who was shipped to the Ducks earlier in the season. Now Zibanejad is on the block... but that's not entirely a new development.

We've heard forever that Zibanejad is on the trade block but that his contract is a stumbling block for most teams who are interested in acquiring him. We heard rumors that the Vancouver Canucks were interested in Zibanejad during the JT Miller trade but that the two sides couldn't make the money work... which is why Filip Chytil ended up heading to Vancouver.

As for the Leafs, Zibanejad does seem like a natural fit. He's a versatile forward who could fit anywhere on the team's top three lines, especially with Mitch Marner headed to free agency.

Thoughts, Leafs fans?