The Toronto Maple Leafs are looking at the defenseman trade market
OverDrive: Darren Dreger and Jonas Siegel on the Toronto Maple Leafs are looking for a defenseman. Winnipeg Jets defenseman Luke Schenn could be a low-cost option, but they should be looking higher. Rasmus Andersson? They have limited trade assets, and does it even make sense?
** NHLRumors.com transcription
Bryan Hayes: “Well, and like, the injury stuff, it’s got to affect the room too, right? Like, every other day is someone else is going down.”
Siegel: “Bonkers.”
Hayes: “And, you know, like, (Chris) Tanev, who knows. (Anthony) Solarz, who knows? Like, those are major pieces, right? Like, how do the Leafs navigate this?”
Dreger: “Well, they’re looking for a defenseman. I mean, that ,that’s been the case, you know,
for months.”
Hayes: “Like an impact guy, or, like, a depth guy. ”
Dreger: “Well best available. I mean, there’s, there are depth pieces available. I mean, look at what the Winnipeg Jets are doing right now, right?
I’m pretty sure if the Toronto Maple Leafs wanted to reunite Luke Schenn, they get him for a lower-end draft. And I think that Luke is looking for a better opportunity, bigger role. I mean, we can appreciate given where he’s at in his career, and I mean, this very respectable to Luke. Because, okay, granted, he’s not, he was never quick, but he’s slower now. But, man, he’s still a simple, smart defenseman, tough. You know, he’s got that personality in the presence in that room, no matter how many minutes he’s playing.
But yeah, I mean, Brad Treliving has to be aiming higher. And how much higher? Again, that depends on what they ask is coming back. That’s where they struggle.”
Jeff O’Neill: “Jonas, you’re kind of wincing.”
Siegel: “Well, because I wrote about this for , and I mentioned Schenn. I think it makes sense, because of the price.
And like they’re better defensemen. Rasmus Andersson is a much better defenseman, obviously. But I don’t know, I don’t think they have the assets to get better defenseman.”
O’Neill: “They have zero assets.”
Siegel: “Well, they don’t zero assets. Like, you could trade Easton Cowan, if you wanted. You could trade Ben Danford. They’ve, they have a second round 2027, cool. Like, they don’t have nothing, but other teams have better stuff.”
Hayes: “Right.”
Siegel: “You know what I mean.”
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Hayes: “Yeah, exactly. So that’s the question, like, and, yeah, I mean, what is your team right now, too? Like, Trelivings got to consider that. You know, it’s like, if you’re, if you’re in Colorado, you’re like, Yeah, we’re in it to win it. This seems, the Leafs aren’t even in the playoffs right now.”
O’Neill: “What are you going to do, spend on this? Not even have any clarity on what you’re …”
Hayes: “Yeah, exactly. Let’s say you go get Rasmus Andersson. Let’s say that’s the guy.”
Siegel: “Yeah, and let’s say it takes all your best stuff, Cowan, Danford and picks…”
Dreger: “Only if you get them on an extension, obviously.”
Siegel: “And then that’s like, its own thing. Like, should you be extending this guy?”
Dreger: “Why not?”
Siegel: “Well, your defense is old already. He’s going to be 30 in …”
Dreger: “You can rejig that in the offseason too, right? Like, I mean, you’re gonna have to move some of those pieces.”
Siegel: “Can you?”
Dreger: “Yeah, I mean.”
Siegel: “But, yeah, it’s a fair question, do you extend him. Like, is that, is that the right move them? Like, that’s
all your stuff.”
Hayes: “I, to me it doesn’t feel like the right timing for that. I’d give it another 10 or 15 games, personally.”
Dreger: “Fair. Fair.”
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Hayes: “You know, Like, I just, I know they’ve been playing better recently. Good for them. They’re in a better position right now. I’m not making a play where I’m unloading everything I’ve got.”
Dreger: “No.”
Hayes: “Personally, and you know where I stand on this Jonas like, I think at some point they’ve got to, they’ve got to re, reload and rebuild the, the farm system. Like you got to have to have young players.”
Dreger: “Not much in the Marlies.”
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