The Toronto Maple Leafs are still looking hard at the defense market, and the questions around their blue line go well beyond a simple add-at-the-deadline scenario.
James Mirtle of The Athletic noted that the average age of Toronto’s top-six defense is 33 years old. The Leafs also don’t control their first-round pick for the next two years, though they do have Colorado’s first this year. On top of that, they own their next three second-round picks and some depth prospects, which gives them some room to work with if they decide to push ahead.
The bigger issue is cost. A true top-four defenseman is going to be expensive, and the list of possible targets is part of the puzzle.
Mirtle pointed out that there should be some lower-end top-four options who could become available without an outrageous price tag. By contrast, RFAs such as Alexander Nikishin and Simon Edvinsson would come with both a steep acquisition cost and a significant salary commitment.
Morgan Rielly is another name that sits right in the middle of Toronto’s long-term planning. With four years left at $7.5 million, he is not an easy player to move during the season, especially since the Maple Leafs would prefer not to retain much salary.
He does have a no-movement clause, though there could be a list of teams if things go sideways in Toronto. That no-move clause turns into a 10-team no-trade on July 1st, 2028.
Auston Matthews is part of the same conversation, but only to a point. If the season goes badly for the Leafs, trade talk around Matthews would be more of an offseason storyline than something that happens in season. If Toronto is competitive, the expectation is that he would want to stay.
The Montreal Canadiens are also getting attention on the back end. According to The Fourth Period, several teams are keeping tabs on Montreal’s blue line, though nothing appears close to happening. Jayden Struble, Arber Xhekaj and Adam Engstrom have all drawn interest from two sources.
Engstrom is waiver-exempt, and Kaiden Guhle is working his way back from an injury, which is why Montreal is carrying an extra defenseman right now. The Philadelphia Flyers, Nashville Predators and Anaheim Ducks are believed to be among the clubs watching the defense market closely.
There are also a few other names floating around the league. Frank Seravalli of Sportsnet reported that the Edmonton Oilers have been looking for a right-handed, fourth-line center, and they are among the teams monitoring Boston Bruins forward Matthew Poitras. Edmonton has also been keeping tabs on Montreal’s Kirby Dach, as have the Calgary Flames.
The Flames, meanwhile, have had some talks with Patrik Laine and some of the other unsigned UFAs still out there. That group includes Vladimir Tarasenko, David Perron, James van Riemsdyk and Jonathan Drouin.
And if the Canucks, Flyers and Devils wind up selling at the deadline, there are a few more names that could come into play. Paul Cotter, Nick Seeler and Brendan Dillon would draw interest in that scenario.
In Other News...
Adam Engstrom Just Gave Canadiens A Tough Blue Line Decision
Adam Engstroms season debut for Montreal came in a 5-2 loss to Nashville, but the rookie defenseman still gave the Canadiens something to think about on a night when their blue line was under the microscope. He skated just under 12 minutes and was not on the ice for any goals against, and his work helped steady a third pairing that had looked shakier in previous games.
Engstrom also stood out in a quieter way by leading Montreal defensemen in turnovers, though none of them turned into dangerous chances for the Predators. For a team trying to sort out its back end, that kind of performance makes the next lineup decision a little more interesting, especially if the Canadiens are looking for signs that a young defender can handle more responsibility. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Face A Telling Blue Line Decision After Struble Trade
Montreals trade of Jayden Struble looks less like a simple subtraction and more like a sign of where the blue line is headed. The Canadiens still have six defensemen on the roster, but management clearly treated the move as strategic, with defensive reinforcements expected to follow rather than leaving the group thin for long.
The next step is what makes the situation worth watching. Kaiden Guhle is nearing a return, which could handle the open spot right away, while David Reinbacher remains the other major internal option if the club decides it needs a seventh defenseman. For a team trying to balance present needs with longer-term planning, the answer will say plenty about how the Canadiens see their depth chart right now. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Face A Delicate Dylan Larkin Test At Bell Centre
The Bell Centre crowd has a way of turning routine visits into something a little more complicated, and Dylan Larkins next trip to Montreal is already carrying an extra layer of intrigue. The Red Wings captain is off to a steady start with two points in two games this season, and with an $8.7 million cap hit, he remains the kind of player who draws attention wherever he goes.
What makes this one stand out is the backdrop around his arrival, which has turned the Canadiens home date into more than just another test on the schedule. TVA Sports reporter Anthony Martineau noted the growing conversation around how Larkin might be received in Canada, and whether the atmosphere inside the building could end up mattering beyond one night at the rink. [Read more 🡒]