Welcome back to another edition of NHL Rumours from the crew at Last Word on Hockey. We’ve hit the 10-game mark of the NHL season for some teams, and with that, rumours are starting to swirl as teams figure out where they stand with the rest of the competition around the league. Some teams are also getting hit with the injury bug, which is having them look for some outside help so they don’t lose ground in their respective conferences. One of those teams is the Toronto Maple Leafs. In this edition of NHL Rumours, we focus on the Leafs looking to improve their defence group.
All NHL Rumours come from their original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours: Leafs Looking for Some Help on Defence
Rumour: According to Elliotte Friedman, the Leafs are looking to improve their defence group and are willing to pay a premium to do so.
Analysis: Friedman mentioned this on Saturday’s Headlines during the intermission on the Sportsnet broadcast but then also spoke about it in a bit more detail in the most recent “32 Thoughts” podcast. With the need for defence being exposed drastically with the loss of Chris Tanev, and the Leafs now losing four of their last five games, the pressure is on general manager John Chayka to make a move to improve his roster.
The Leafs made a major move already this season by acquiring Kirill Marchenko and signing him to a massive contract extension that carries a cap hit of $12.5 million. They paid a hefty price to get him by moving Matthew Knies, and because of that, it eliminates a piece they could have used to improve their defence. Not to mention, a much larger cap hit. Auston Matthews‘ contract is also coming to an end after the 2027-28 season, and with him being an unrestricted free agent at that time, Chayka is certainly hoping to turn the Leafs into a contender now so that their captain and the franchise’s best player doesn’t decide to leave.
The issue is, most teams aren’t in the market to move a premier defenceman. And the Leafs don’t exactly have the quality pieces to acquire a top-tier defenceman either. Especially since they’ve already moved Knies and don’t want to part with Easton Cowan, so the Leafs will need to get creative.
They do currently own the Colorado Avalanche’s first-round pick in the 2027 NHL Entry Draft. They also have some quality prospects like defenceman Ben Danford, goaltender Artur Akhtyamov, and forward Tinus Luc Koblar. A combination of these players and/or picks should be able to land the Leafs a solid piece.
The Last Word
Despite the want to add a big fish on the back end, the Maple Leafs might just not have the assets to do so. The options of players like Simon Edvinsson or Alexander Nikishin, who are currently begging to play for new teams and the Leafs have been rumoured to check in on, are more than likely a no-go based on the return Toronto would be willing to send to either Detroit or Carolina. Unless, of course, they decide they’re willing to move a player like Easton Cowan.
However, that doesn’t mean they can’t improve their defence group. Names like Vince Dunn and Zach Whitecloud are two names that come to mind and are quality defencemen. They have also seen their names in the rumour mill. Dunn is currently in the last year of his contract, which carries a cap hit of $7.35 million, while Whitecloud has an extra year remaining at a much more manageable $2.75 million cap hit. Either of these players would drastically improve the Leafs’ defence group, and the Leafs most certainly could put together a package that should be able to pry them from their current teams.
More NHL Rumours:
Montreal Canadiens After a Big Fish on the Forward Market
Los Angeles Kings Entering Connor Hellebuyck Sweepstakes
New York Rangers Scouring the Goalie Market
Main Photo: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images