Brad Treliving's Next Move Could Change Everything in Toronto

The Toronto Maple Leafs have been looking for a stable defensive lineup for a long time now. The lone constant over recent years has been Morgan Rielly, as the team continues to seek a more physical presence on the blue line.

As it stands, the Leafs' defensive roster includes:

Given this configuration, Toronto is banking on several players rising above their historical performance. Jake McCabe, for instance, who has traditionally been a dependable 5/6 defenseman in the league, may be called upon to serve in a top-four capacity within the Leafs organization.

Young talents like Simon Benoit, Timothy Liljegren, and Connor Timmins have displayed promising moments but remain inconsistent. Meanwhile, T.J. Brodie and Mark Giordano are veterans who can't be counted on for extensive ice time at this juncture in their careers.

This situation heightens the Leafs' need for a ytop defenseman to team up with either Rielly or Klingberg.

The Leafs need a defenseman capable of heavy minutes and one who can add a physical dimension to complement the skill sets of players like Rielly, Klingberg, and Liljegren.

As the trade deadline approaches, several players with expiring contracts may become viable options, including Noah Hanifin, Chris Tanev, Nikita Zadorov, Brett Pesce, Ian Cole, Joel Edmundson, Brendan Dillon, and Dylan DeMelo. Each has shown the capability to play significant minutes and brings a physical or imposing presence due to their size. Their expiring contracts also mean that the Leafs might be able to acquire them at a relatively low cost.

The pressing question is whether the Leafs can maintain a competitive defense until such reinforcements become officially available. If they succeed in bolstering their defensive ranks, the team could become a true contender in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

As seen on Hockey Patrol - Brad Treliving's Next Move Will Be A Game Changer For The Leafs Defense