Rumour: Leafs' top trade target surprisingly available

A change of circumstances opened up a huge possibility for Toronto.

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 6 years ago
Rumour: Leafs' top trade target surprisingly available
Keystone Press

Defense wins championships, so they say. This is a relatively universal truth in most pro sports, although this reality fluctuates from year to year, as some teams, like last year's Pittsburgh Penguins, find ways to win it all by other means.

In the case of the Toronto Maple Leafs, though, it's clear they're lacking on the blue line. Matt Larkin of The Hockey News went so far as to say that they are pretenders and not contenders, something that won't change until they acquire a high-end right-shot defenseman.

We've heard the names - Erik Karlsson, Drew Doughty, Oliver Ekman-Larsson - but barring OEL, which even then is a stretch, they won't acquire them this season, if at all.

Another option that is of high interest to Lou Lamoriello is very likely available and the odds of him getting traded have been increased substantially amidst his injury and team's red hot play as of late.

We're talking about Tyson Barrie from the Colorado Avalanche.

In Elliotte Friedman's "31 thoughts" segment today, he mentioned that the team has been absolutely stellar over the last 10 games. Barrie hasn't been involved in any of that, as he nurses an injury that's kept him out since before Christmas.

The team's electric play has all of a sudden made Barrie more expendable, and the rumours around him are heating up more than ever as they see that they can win without him.

A trade for Barrie would provide a very solid return for Joe Sakic, and despite the fact that Colorado may make the playoffs this year, they're not necessarily an established contender yet, as they are only one season removed from a sub-50 point campaign.

The Leafs have a bevy of talented prospects and young players that could be leveraged in a trade for Tyson Barrie, it's just a question of Lou and Sakic doing the dance.


Source: 31 Thoughts