Simon Edvinsson's name is drifting toward Toronto after the Red Wings sent two scouts to watch the Maple Leafs on Monday night.
This info was confirmed by many.
Detroit was one of 18 teams with scouts or reps at the 3-1 win over San Jose, and the only club listed with two.
Scouts in the building prove nothing on their own. But the Leafs as a landing spot for the holdout defenseman makes a lot of sense.
Toronto has been hunting a top-four defenseman since the summer. John Chayka is willing to move young assets and the first-round pick the Leafs hold from Colorado next year.
That Colorado pick is the carrot, and an awfully tempting one for any GM to turn down.
Edvinsson remains unsigned. Shawn Horcoff has said he isn't interested in trading him, though he's engaged in talks with other clubs.
Two scouts in the press box is like a real estate agent driving slowly past your house twice in one night.
John Chayka has the Colorado pick Detroit might want
And here's the twist. Toronto isn't among the teams reportedly on Dylan Larkin's list, so those two scouts likely weren't there to price out a Larkin deal.
Toronto needs the help badly. The Leafs have allowed 33 goals, and Morgan Rielly sits at -6.
Darren Raddysh logged 26:39 on Monday, a sign of how thin the group is with Chris Tanev on injured reserve.
-
Jake McCabe and Oliver Ekman-Larsson are still searching for their first points.
The Leafs are 4-4-2 and sit sixth in the Atlantic after snapping a three-game skid.
For Toronto, Edvinsson is the dream fit. Sending him to an Atlantic rival would be a bold call by Detroit.
The Leafs head into the second half of a back-to-back tonight in Columbus.
Detroit, meanwhile, opens a four-game road trip in Seattle tonight with plenty on the table.
Would Horcoff really hand Toronto the piece it's been missing? With a President of Hockey Operations still to be hired above him, nobody knows who makes the final call.
Two scouts don't make a trade. They do make it clear Detroit is watching closely, and Toronto's blue line isn't going to fix itself.
Should the Maple Leafs trade for Simon Edvinsson?
Also read on Markerzone.com:
Dylan Larkin trade reportedly nearing in Detroit
