If the Leafs aren't able to land one of their top centre targets, one insider believes Brad Treliving will pivot to adding a big piece at another position.
The high price of the top targets at center may lead to the Leafs and Brad Treliving to explore a potential "plan B", according to Chris Johnston on Thursday's edition of "The CJ Show".
"The Leafs want to get a defenseman this deadline as well... I think there's a world where all the stuff with centres falls through, maybe they use some of those more attractive assets they have to trade for a defenseman... Is there a world where Rasmus Andersson becomes available in Calgary?"
Andersson's name was mentioned due to the connections to Treliving from his time in Calgary, but unless Calgary drastically falls out of the playoff hunt, Johnston noted it was very unlikely to happen.
Johnston, however, did not dismiss the notion that a big swing is coming for the Leafs.
"If the Schenn thing doesn't come to pass for whatever reason. If Philadelphia holds strong and says it's got to be a first or equivalent for Laughton and the Leafs decide they just can't give that up, then you're getting into a rental type centre who's cheaper and you still have the first. Then you're Toronto and you're looking at the blueline... The Leafs are of the mind to take a big swing."
The deadline is less than a week away and fans are hoping Treliving steps out of his comfort zone to make a rather big trade at the deadline instead of his usual depth adds. Either way, the Leafs are expected to be aggressive this week.