One team has the inside track to sign Alex Pietrangelo

Alex Pietrangelo will hit the free-agent market in a couple of weeks and he never expected to be in the position to do so. His agent and the Blues have talked several times over the course of this hockey season, and the Blues captain thought for sure he would get a deal done. Turns out that's not the case and the team has told him to go test the market. Now that Pietrangelo has bought into the idea of leaving St Louis, there's one team he would love to play for.

According to several reports including Blues beat writer Andy Strickland, Pietrangelo grew up a Maple Leafs fan in Ontario, and it would be a boyhood dream for him to lace up his skates wearing the Maple Leaf.

Much like John Tavares, Pietrangelo has pictures in pajamas and grew up idolizing many of the Leafs as a boy. The Maple Leafs, on the other hand, have been trying to set themselves up with trades so when they get a chance to pounce, everything is in place to do so.

It's no secret the Leafs have a strong sense of urgency to upgrade their blue line, and Pietrangelo is priority #1 at this point.

Turns out 'Pietro's love for the Maple Leafs as a kid, and still having a ton of family in the area (which helps with 4 toddlers), will play a huge part in his decision.

For Leafs Nation, let's just hope the dollars make cents.