Insider links Leafs to two brand new names ahead of March 3rd deadline

Well, today is a more interesting day than perhaps any day in the last month or so, as Elliotte Friedman actually linked the Leafs to two new players while making an appearance on the "Leaf Report" podcast with James Mirtle and Jonas Siegel of The Athletic. Friedman revealed that the Leafs have identified one player who is "exactly who they're looking for" in Seattle's Carson Soucy. The Kraken blueliner is a nasty, physical, defensive defenseman who carries a modest $2.75M cap hit. Soucy is not going to blow anyone away with his production, but imagine if you will a 6'5, 210-pound T.J. Brodie who has already racked up 100 hits this season in just 54 games. If that sounds enticing, then the name Carson Soucy should excite you.

Next, Friedman mentioned the possibility of the Leafs going after 28-year-old Philadelphia Flyers center Scott Laughton. The Oakville, ON native is enjoying a breakout season in Philly this year, already having amassed 31 points in 51 games. He's on pace to smash his previous career high 32 points from 2018-19 and is a player who does all of the little things that could really help this Leafs team in the playoffs, including throwing some big hits and blocking shots.

Unlike Soucy, who is a pending UFA, Laughton actually has term remaining on his deal and is signed through 2025-26 at a very reasonable $3M per season. The drawbacks here are that Friedman doesn't know if the Leafs would pay the asking price on Soucy and that Philly may not want to move Laughton.

There's still a little over two weeks remaining until the March 3rd trade deadline, so there is certainly still time for the Leafs to change their tune on Soucy and for the Flyers to decide that they are indeed a seller. If the Leafs are serious about either player, there's no doubt that they both check a lot of boxes for the Buds and could really have an impact come playoff time.