The Toronto Maple Leafs continue trying to build a roster that can have consistent playoff success, something that has eluded the franchise over the past two decades. And in the quest to again capture an ever-elusive Stanley Cup, general manager Brad Treliving is reportedly looking to add size to the blue line ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.
“The Toronto Maple Leafs are looking to add some size to their blueline this off-season, as GM Brad Treliving is believed to be in the market for a big defenceman or two,” reported The Fourth Period on Wednesday.
There are a couple of reasonable options for Treliving to target this summer both via free agency and on the trade market, and he is expected to target D-men through both avenues, per TFP.
The outlet added: “The Leafs have already been linked to pending unrestricted free agent blueliner Nikita Zadorov, who could hit the market July 1 if he does not sign a new deal with the Vancouver Canucks. As TFP's David Pagnotta has previously reported, the Leafs have expressed an interest in re-signing Joel Edmundson, but the big blueliner is set on testing the free agent before making any decisions on his immediate future.”
Edmundson played the final weeks of the season in Toronto after being traded from the Washington Capitals on March 7. He got into nine regular-season contests, and played all seven postseason games as the Leafs again lost to the Boston Bruins in Round 1.
As for Zadorov, he will likely cost a ton more than Edmundson after an electric postseason run with the Vancouver Canucks. And the Leafs only have so much cap space to work with this summer.
Leafs don't exactly have a ton of cap space
With less than two weeks before free agency kicks off on July 1, the Leafs are projected to have just under $19 million in cap space to work with, according to CapFriendly.
And Treliving already has a few irons in the fire; the front office is reportedly looking to re-up both Tyler Bertuzzi and Max Domi, who were each solid in their first season in the blue and white. It was also speculated on Thursday that the Leafs could go after Bruins forward Jake DeBrusk on July 1, despite the amount of damage he's done to Toronto in past postseasons.
On the trade market, the Leafs have been linked to hulking St. Louis Blues defenseman Colton Parayko; Treliving has reportedly been interested in the blue liner since he was the GM of the Calgary Flames, per TFP. As Parayko holds a full no-movement clause, that one could be a little trickier.
Most likely, Treliving and the front office will look to round out the blue line with a relatively affordable but sizeable third-pairing defenseman. But as those rumors continue to swirl, the future of star forward Mitch Marner remains up in the air. If the former first-rounder does end up getting traded, it would open up even more cap space for the front office to consider adding a few additional pieces.
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