Top 3 Defence Trade Targets for Maple Leafs Amidst Tanev Crisis

With Chris Tanev leaving Tuesday night's game with his arm in a sling, it further emphasizes the Toronto Maple Leafs' need to find a viable defenseman on the trade market over the next week. Tanev may only be out "day to day", per head coach Craig Berube, but the blueline need doesn't go away.

Let's have a look at 3 top right-shot options the Leafs would love to get their hands on:

Colton Parayko, St. Louis Blues

This would be the big home run swing. A large, physical presence (6'6", 230 lbs) who logs massive ice time and blocks a ton of shots, he'd be the ideal solution, not only short-term, but long-term as well. And of course, his connection to Leafs head coach Craig Berube, whom he won a Stanley Cup with in St. Louis, makes this the ideal addition. It would take a huge return going back, however. A Leafs insider recently proposed bringing in Parayko even if it takes a huge cost.

Luke Schenn, Nashville Predators

This would be another terrific reunion, this time for Morgan Rielly and the Leafs, where Schenn was a great addition at the 2023 trade deadline. As reporter Dave Feschuk said on TSN's First Up Wednesday morning, "he added a lot to this team. We all know how solid he was as a partner for Morgan Rielly on the right side... And I really felt like he was a really big factor in them getting over the hump against Tampa," referring to Toronto's one and only playoff series victory of this current era of the team. As a regular for 200+ hits a season, he'd quickly become a Berube favorite as well.

Brandon Carlo, Boston Bruins

Ok, a Leafs/Bruins trade isn't the most likely scenario, but he appears to be one of Boston's best trade pieces for their likely "retooling" effort. The 28-year-old still has two more years on his deal at a reasonable $4.1 million. And at 6'5", 220 lbs, he fits right into the theme here of big, physical defenseman with reach and shot-blocking ability.