NHL Rumors: 4 Maple Leafs Trade Targets

The Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to make a trade this season to acquire a defenseman. Recently, the likes of Jake Muzzin and TJ Brodie have hit the injured reserve, with Muzzin likely out for the season. General manager Kyle Dubas recently mentioned he's not going to hit the panic button just yet and will let Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren take on a bigger role. 

David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period has linked several defensemen to the Leafs including Anaheim Ducks Kevin Shattenkirk, Columbus Blue Jackets' Vladislav Gavrikov, Luke Schenn of the Vancouver Canucks and Carson Soucy of the Seattle Kraken

Schenn is an interesting candidate as the former Maple Leaf makes less than $1 million, is familiar with playing in the Toronto market and would help provide some stability to the penalty kill in Muzzin's absence.

The Maple Leafs have to work out some of the financial issues as cap space is limited. If Muzzin is on the LTIR for the rest of the season this certainly will help the cause. He's going to be reevaluated by doctors in February and this will give the Leafs GM a sense of what he can and can't do before the trade deadline. For now, Sandin and Liljegren get more responsibility and management sits back to assess what they have.

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