John Chayka's Maple Leafs are hunting for a defenseman, and Elliotte Friedman says they won't settle for a cheap patch.
Friedman reported that Toronto has “made it very clear” it isn't interested in “a band-aid solution” on the back end.
The Leafs are willing to “pay a premium asset” if they believe they're landing “a difference-maker on the blueline.”
That's a loud message from a team riding a four-game win streak after Saturday night's 7-2 win in Edmonton.
So why go shopping at 7-4-2? The goals-against column answers that.
Toronto has given up 41 goals in 13 games. It's survivable only because the forwards have scored 50.
Chris Tanev's injury exposes how thin the Leafs' defense really is
Chris Tanev is on injured reserve with an upper-body injury, expected out until at least Oct. 31.
Marshall Rifai is on IR too, with a lower-body injury and the same timeline.
That leaves 35-year-old Oliver Ekman-Larsson in the everyday lineup, with one point to show for 13 games.
Production from the back end has been thin across the board. Morgan Rielly still hasn't scored, though he does have nine assists.
Darren Raddysh carries the biggest cap hit on the blue line at $8,500,000. He's been held without a goal as well.
Add it all up and Toronto's defensemen have three goals combined. Troy Stecher owns two of them, both game-winners.
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Refusing another band-aid is the right call. Adding one more depth body to this group would be like buying a new welcome mat for a house with a leaky roof.
The crease hasn't bailed anyone out either. Sergei Bobrovsky sits at an .895 save percentage through eight games.
So what counts as a premium asset in Toronto right now? That's where this gets uncomfortable.
Every contender wants the same kind of defenseman, and sellers now know the Leafs just told the whole league they're willing to pay.
Tanev can't return before Oct. 31, the night Toronto plays in Vancouver. If Chayka hasn't found his difference-maker by then, the asking price won't be getting any cheaper.
Should the Maple Leafs pay a premium asset for a defenseman before Chris Tanev returns?
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