Interesting Potential Trade Target Emerges for the Maple Leafs

Much of the focus in Toronto at the moment is on adding down the middle, bolstering their centre depth behind Auston Matthews and John Tavares. However, it's not the only area that needs improving.

TSN's Darren Dreger revealed this week that the Leafs may wait until closer to the deadline to complete their next trade, due to the currently inflated asking prices.

The Leafs have been linked to the likes of Brock Nelson, Scott Laughton and Dylan Cozens, among others, but it may not be long before we begin to hear the names of a few defencemen in connection to the Maple Leafs.

The blueline in Toronto is much improved this season, thanks in part to the additions of Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. But, with the Jani Hakanpaa situation still very uncertain, the Leafs may still require an additional piece to bolster the back end.

One Leafs fan on Twitter/X brought up a name that fans may be familiar with: Vancouver Canucks blueliner Carson Soucy. Not only does Soucy fit what the Leafs are looking for, but he's available and he should come relatively cheap, thanks in part to a bit of a down year.

The 30-year-old hulking defenceman can play both the left side and the right side, and as a heavy-hitting, shot-blocking defender, he certainly fits the mold of what Leafs GM Brad Treliving appears to covet.

There is something that Soucy is not, however. He's not exactly a productive defenceman, which means that he's probably not their primary target. The Leafs do not get a lot of point production from the back end as it is, so there's a chance that if they do add on the blueline, they'll push to bring in someone with a little more razzle dazzle.

Still, knowing what we know about Brad Treliving and the types of bluelines he likes to build, Soucy's name should very much be on the table, especially with rumours afoot that the Canucks are willing to move him.

Soucy may be a -15 in Vancouver this season, but he's a +56 across his entire career, which is more indicative of the type of player he is.

The Alberta native has recorded 82 hits and 85 blocked shots so far this season, and has contributed 8 points in 54 games for the Canucks.