Insider reporting that the Leafs are now out on star defenseman

Chychrun is definitely the biggest name on the trade market in terms of available defensemen with the exception of maybe Erik Karlsson, but since Karlsson has yet to make it known if he would accept a trade out of San Jose, Chychrun remains the top dog. The Coyotes have had Chychrun on the block for a long time and it seems more and more likely that a trade will occur at some point this season. He has term left, he is somewhat cheap all things considered, and he would be an elite option for any contending team.

Elliotte Friedman on his 32 Thoughts podcast made mention that he has heard that the Maple Leafs are not one of the teams in on the Chychrun sweepstakes and that their priority could be going after a second line winger for John Tavares instead.

The Maple Leafs finally lost a regulation game last night against the New York Rangers, snapping an incredible 12-0-3 run in the previous 15 games. Since the end of October after going 4-4-2 in their first 10 games, the Maple Leafs have been a staggering 15-2-4 and have dealt with a number injuries on their back end and to their goaltending in that time.

Thanks to this incredible run they've been on, they've realized that their depth pieces - whether internal or external - have kept the boat afloat and have actually played a lot better than expected. Justin Holl has been a surprisingly solid first pair defenseman since being thrust into that position alongside 39-year-old Mark Giordano. Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren have been playing like the first round picks the Leafs drafted years ago and Conor Timmins has been a happy surprise since his acquisition.

The assets needed to complete a Chychrun trade would push away several teams and the Leafs are in no position to desperately make a deal just to make a deal. Morgan Rielly will return at some point this season, which can be likened as an in-season acquisition. Now, with Brodie back, and once Liljegren comes back from the injury he suffered last night in New York, all of a sudden the Leafs will have an abundance of depth on the back end that you never realized going into the second half of the season.

Adding a second-line winger for John Tavares will only increase the offence of an already high-octane team. It would also cost a lot less than whatever they'd have to trade to acquire Chychrun, which is believed to be at least 3 good, quality peices.