Top Trade Target Lost to Injury; Another Center Off the Board for Brad Treliving and the Leafs

As the Toronto Maple Leafs' season progresses, one glaring issue has become evident: the need for additional center depth, especially after a series of injuries to key players has left the Leafs struggling to remain a consistently dangerous team.

While John Tavares is expected to return soon, his injury has revealed just how thin the Maple Leafs are at center. Before that, it was Auston Matthews who was sidelined, highlighting the need for an extra pivot.

For some time now, one potential trade target for Toronto has been Seattle Kraken forward and two-time Stanley Cup champion Yanni Gourde.

However, it appears as though the Leafs will need to turn their attention elsewhere. As per Daily Faceoff Fantasy on X, Gourde has undergone surgery and will be out several weeks while he recovers.

Gourde would have been a perfect fit as the Leafs' third-line center. He has an expiring contract, playoff pedigree, and excels at both ends of the ice. With this season being a down year for the speedy forward, as he has only amassed 16 points in 35 games, the Maple Leafs could have gotten him at a discount.

It's also worth noting that the sports hernia surgery Gourde will be recovering from is the same procedure Calle Jarnkrok has been recovering from, and we've seen how that injury timeline has been delayed for Jarnkrok.

One thing is clear: Whether it's Gourde or someone else, the Maple Leafs will need to make a move to bolster their center depth. If either John Tavares or Auston Matthews goes down, the current options are simply not strong enough to contend for a Stanley Cup.

The Maple Leafs will gear up to face the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday, in desperate need to end their three game losing streak.