The Maple Leafs are digging for help on the blue line, and two possible answers have moved to the front of the board: Nashville Predators defenseman Nic Hague and Detroit Red Wings restricted free agent Simon Edvinsson.
Toronto’s need is obvious. The Leafs have given up the second-most goals against in the league with 45 through 14 games, and their 3.21 goals against per game is only a shade worse than the NHL average. Even so, General Manager John Chayka has made it clear he wants another blueliner, and he’s already hinted that a major move could still be on the table, much like the Kirill Marchenko trade.
A lot of names have been attached to Toronto, including Erik Karlsson and Rasmus Ristolainen, but Hague and Edvinsson look like realistic targets if the Leafs are serious about shaking up their defense.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said on his 32 Thoughts podcast just over a week ago that Toronto is not interested in moving forward Easton Cowan, but would be open to dealing the 2027 first-round pick it picked up in the Nicholas Roy trade. Friedman also said the Leafs might be willing to swap out one of their older veteran defensemen for a younger long-term piece, which would line up with either of these options.
Hague appears to be the cleaner fit. TSN’s Darren Dreger said on OverDrive that he had heard the Predators were shopping Hague as recently as late last week.
The six-foot-six defender is 27 years old and comes with a $5.5 million cap hit for two more seasons after this one. He is not the kind of defenseman who is going to pile up points, but he would bring size, edge and a hard-nosed presence.
The Kitchener native also comes with the added appeal of coming home to play for a relative hometown team.
There’s another reason Hague stands out: he should cost less. Compared with Edvinsson, he profiles more like a depth defenseman, which could allow Toronto to land him without paying a massive asset price while still addressing a long-term need.
Edvinsson would be the bigger swing. Another six-foot-six defenseman, the Swede plays less physically than Hague, but he uses his reach and length to erase plays and disrupt puck movement. That lines up neatly with Toronto’s desire for a more defense-oriented blueliner.
He would also bring more offense. In 150 games over his first two full NHL seasons, Edvinsson has 16 goals and 40 assists for 56 points. His 0.37 points per game projects to a 30-point pace, and that kind of production would be a bonus if the Leafs are also getting the defensive stability they want.
The problem is price. Friedman said Monday on the FAN Hockey Show that "there's a lot of interest in Simon Edvinsson; [Detroit's] asking a high price, but I think the talks there are really picking up."
He also said in his newest podcast episode that the Red Wings would want young centers in a return package for Edvinsson or disgruntled center Dylan Larkin, which could make this a tougher deal for Toronto to assemble than a move for Hague.
The Leafs might have to part with Cowan, something they would prefer to avoid, and Edvinsson will also need a new contract, with reports saying he is looking for an eight-figure cap hit.
Even so, the door is still open. Toronto could always get creative with a three-team deal, perhaps sending assets such as Colorado's first-round pick to a team that Detroit likes for a center, then rerouting that player to the Red Wings with additional pieces such as Toronto’s fourth-ranked prospect, center Tinus Luc Koblar.
With both defensemen said to be available, it would not be a surprise if Toronto ends up landing one of them.
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