Trusted NHL Insider suggests that an Atlantic Division rival could be preparing to outbid the Leafs for their preferred target at the deadline
With the deadline just over 3 weeks away, the chatter is beginning to pick up as teams start zeroing in on their preferred trade targets. For the Leafs, it's still unclear as to whether or not they favour a forward or a defenseman - but if it is indeed a defenseman, they may have to hurry up and pull the trigger before things get dicey.
Elliotte Friedman suggested in his latest 32 Thoughts that the Leafs aren't the only ones near the top of the Atlantic Division who have a strong desire to bring in one of Jakob Chychrun, Vladislav Gavrikov or Luke Schenn to bolster their blueline. Per Friedman, the Bruins are also interested in all 3 defenders.
It wouldn't be the first time that a pair of division rivals pushed hard to acquire the same player(s) to throw a wrench into the plans of their counterpart. In the case of the Leafs, they need to add more than the Bruins do. The Bruins have put together a potentially historic run this season and are on pace to finish with more points than any other team in NHL history. The Leafs, on the other hand, still have a missing piece or two and could use an extra body to help push them over the top.
The Leafs aren't going to be able to stop the Bruins from adding. If the B's want to add, the Leafs don't have enough cap space and assets to outbid them on every deal. However, if the Buds can focus on landing the best possible piece, it will put the Bruins at a bit of a disadvantage in terms of the piece they bring in making less of an impact than the piece the Leafs bring in. Naturally, if the focus is a defenseman here and if the Leafs and Bruins are interested in the same pieces, then the Leafs bringing in Chychrun, leaving Gavrikov and Schenn as the only options for Boston would be an important step towards a deeper run in the playoffs. However, if the Bruins pull the trigger first and land a better piece than the Leafs, the Buds could be in tough as they try to emerge from the East this spring/summer.
| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 8 | 251 ANSWERS Trusted NHL Insider suggests that an Atlantic Division rival could be preparing to outbid the Leafs for their preferred target at the deadline Will the Leafs acquire a defenseman at the deadline? | ||
| Yes, they should target a D-man | 85 | 33.9 % |
| No, it's a forward they need | 24 | 9.6 % |
| They can acquire both a F and a D | 142 | 56.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
