Rumor: Leafs linked to four blueliners in trade rumblings

Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas unofficially kicked off the NHL’s trade season late last month, but with the trade deadline now just four days away, don’t be surprised if Dubas has another trick up his sleeve.

On the latest 31 Thoughts podcast for Sportsnet, co-host Elliotte Friedman reports that he believes the Leafs are still looking for a right-shooting defenseman to pick up on the trade market. 

Check it out:

“I think they’re still looking for another right-shot D. And I still think it could be a bigger one. They were in Anaheim… I gotta think it’s (Brandon) Montour.”

“Carolina’s another one, but I don’t know how they can be making a move.”

At this point co-host Jeff Marek chimed in and named Brett Pesce as a potential trade target for the Leafs. 

“There has been some rumblings about them with (Adam) McQuaid.”

But maybe the biggest target of all… Jared Spurgeon of the Minnesota Wild.

“Spurgeon’s got term… Spurgeon’s got a bigger number and that’s the guy that Minnesota has that could really get them something." 

So… that’s Montour, Pesce, McQuaid and Spurgeon. Quite a range of blue liners. Should the price for Spurgeon, Pesce or Montour be too high, don’t be surprised if the Leafs put in an offer on McQuaid. Then there’s also former Leafs blue liner Roman Polak of the Dallas Stars… could he be an option? Leafs coach Mike Babcock would certainly love to see Polak back in the fold. 

Whatever ends up happening, don’t be surprised if Dubas and the Leafs are active between now and Monday afternoon.