NHL Rumors: Maple Leafs Making Trade Calls Early on This Season

The Toronto Maple Leafs have started the season 4-4-2 and the noise is starting to amplify around management. General manager Kyle Dubas is in the final season of his contract and even though the job security may be thin at this point, expect to see Toronto's GM go all-in this season.

While it's not likely to start with a blockbuster move, as those are very rare this time of year, look for the Maple Leafs to make a couple of minor moves to try and stop the bleeding. The team has been rumored to be making trade calls regarding forward Pierre Engvall and defenseman Justin Holl.

The two Maple Leafs' have struggled to start this season, and both are pending free agents. With the Maple Leafs cap issues, subtracting Holl's $2 million and Engvall's $2.25 million would go a long way. Engvall has scored just one time in nine games and has gone from a potential option at left-wing on the second line, to being cemented on the Leafs' fourth line. Meanwhile Holl has been the team's worst defenseman and continues to make costly plays in key points of the game.

Leafs Nation can expect to see Timothy Liljegren and Jordie Benn returning to the big club very soon, giving Dubas all the more reason to move out Holl. With the team's young talent up front in the AHL, Engvall could be easily replaced by a prospect looking for an opportunity. Sounds like the trade chatter has picked up in a major way for the Maple Leafs.