Report: Leafs targeting top defenseman in a trade

The market will be hot, but the Leafs have the assets to make it happen.

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 6 years ago
Report: Leafs targeting top defenseman in a trade
Keystone Press

It’s no secret that the Toronto Maple Leafs are in the market for a defenseman this summer. After being linked to the Calgary Flames’ Dougie Hamilton and former St Louis Blues’ Kevin Shattenkirk during the regular season, the team decided to stand pat on the blue line, but will almost certainly look to improve this offseason.

The Hockey News’ Lyle Richardson proposes a trade fit between the Leafs and Anaheim Ducks in advance of the Vegas Golden Knights’ upcoming Expansion Draft. With the Ducks needing to protect Kevin Bieksa due to his no-movement contract clause, they’re left with only two potential spots left to protect Cam Fowler, Hampus Lindholm and Sami Vatanen. The 25 year-old Vatanen is arguably the most intriguing of the bunch as his right-handed shot would be a perfect fit for the Leafs defense corps.

His annual cap hit of $4.8 million for the next three seasons is certainly reasonable and the Leafs have assets that they could move to acquire the slick skating Finn. This all precludes any arrangement in which the Ducks can get Bieksa to waive his no-movement clause, because if that were the case the team would certainly rather protect Vatanen. In the scenario where the team is forced to relinquish a player, however, they will almost certainly make a trade, and when that happens, you can bet that the Leafs will be there.