The Leafs were expected to be one of the busier teams at the deadline, but if you include Josh Manson to Colorado, the Leafs have now missed out on 3 of the players to whom they had been linked with Ben Chiarot landing in Florida and Calle Jarnkrok on his way to Calgary. The Buds have to get to work if they want to fill their many roster needs.
The primary area of need for the Leafs is on defense. GM Kyle Dubas had revealed as much during a recent media scrum from the site of the Heritage Classic in Hamilton last week. The Leafs are still rumoured to be in on Calvin de Haan, Hampus Lindholm and Mark Giordano. In terms of what they're prepared to give up, there's at least one prospect who they appear to have no interest in dealing.
During an appearance on SN650, The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta revealed that teams are reportedly very high on Timothy Liljegren. The first team that I've heard had inquired on Liljegren was the Vancouver Canucks, but Pagnotta believes that the Leafs won't move him for anything short of a significant player with term remaining.
By the sounds of it, the Leafs are not going to make any knee-jerk, impulse decisions and mortgage their future unless it gives them a piece that they feel will give them a very good chance to win.
POLL | ||
16 MARS | 301 ANSWERS Teams calling the Leafs on Liljegren Should the Leafs deal Liljegren? | ||
Yes, but only in a deal for a marquee player | 161 | 53.5 % |
No, he's going to be a long-term difference maker | 104 | 34.6 % |
Don't care, just win | 36 | 12 % |
List of polls |