RUMOUR: Maple Leafs Favourite To Acquire Two Top Defensemen

Word on the street, courtesy of The Fourth Line's David Pagnotta, is that the Leafs have their sights set on former Leaf Ilya Lyubushkin and Calgary's Chris Tanev ahead of the March 8th trade deadline. Injuries have hit the Leafs' defense hard this season, with key players like John Klingberg, Timothy Liljegren, and Mark Giordano sidelined at various points.

Lyubushkin is no stranger to Toronto, having suited up for 31 games with the team back in 2021-22. Sure, he hasn't been lighting up the scoresheet with just 4 assists in 46 games for the Anaheim Ducks this season, but he brings some solid veteran experience.

As for Tanev, don't expect him to be the next offensive powerhouse. With just 1 goal and 9 points in 45 games, he's not exactly a scoring machine. Tanev's a defensive stalwart with 14 years in the NHL, proving himself undrafted. He's reliable, sacrificing his body to keep pucks out of the net.
On defense, he's a wizard, disrupting plays and shutting down scoring chances. Offensively, he's not a big scorer but sets up teammates well and keeps plays alive.
Sure, he's not perfect—he can sometimes mishandle the puck. Yet at 34, he's durable, missing just 20 games in five seasons.
Yet what he doesn't give in points, he makes up for in toughness, leadership, and heart—qualities the Leafs could use.

The Leafs need to shake things up, and snagging either Lyubushkin or Tanev would give their blue line a much-needed boost. With a healthy defensive squad, the Leafs could have another weapon in their arsenal as they gun for that elusive Stanley Cup. Let's see how this plays out!