Leafs competing with 3 NHL teams for Seattle's captain.

Although there are many fans in Toronto who have been hoping that their team will make a change in goal ahead of the National Hockey League's trade deadline, which is now only days away, the Leafs themselves have stated publicly on several occasions now that they are comfortable with their current goaltending.

On Friday National Hockey League insider Elliotte Friedman shared his latest insights on Toronto's plans ahead of the deadline and what he had to say appears to reinforce the belief that the Leafs will in fact be looking at options outside of the blue paint, rather than looking to upgrade their goaltending. Friedman indicated that instead the Leafs were looking to bolster their defense ahead of the deadline, but added that he was somewhat skeptical about the Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas being able to secure his desired target due to his reluctance to give up a first round draft pick.

"Ron Francis wants a first for Giordano," said Friedman on the latest episode of the 32 Thoughts Podcast. "I think he's very much on Toronto's radar. I think Kyle Dubas has made it very clear to everyone, he does not want to trade his first rounder. He's gotta find another way around that or change his mind."

Unfortunately for the Leafs it sounds like the price to acquire Giordano may be a relatively rich one, with Friedman indicating that a recent trade from the Montreal Canadiens may have significantly increased the price for teams looking to add defensemen ahead of the trade deadline.

"Someone sent me a note this morning," said Friedman. "'Montreal screwed everyone, they got too good a return for Chiarot.'"

Further complicating matters for the Maple Leafs in this situation is the fact that there appear to be a number of teams around the league also looking at the possibility of adding Giordano to their roster for a run in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

"I think the teams that are looking for left hand D... I think it's Toronto, I think it's Boston, I think it's St. Louis and I think it's potentially L.A.," said Friedman about the competition for Giordano.

This does not appear to be the case of a general manager looking for a good fit for one of his veteran players either, with Friedman adding that he believes Francis will simply take the best offer he gets for the Seattle Kraken's current captain.

"I think it's what's the best package that Francis can get for Giordano?" said Friedman."That's what he's focusing on right now."

That makes it sound like Dubas' reluctance to give up a first round pick could cost the Leafs in the end, although that is likely going to depend on whether or not any of the other teams in on Giordano are willing to give up a first round pick of their own to make the deal a reality.

Offensively Giordano has produced at a similar rate this season with 6 goals and 17 assists for 23 points over 55 games as a member of the Seattle Kraken. Last season as captain of the Calgary Flames he had 9 goals and 17 assists for 26 points over a stretch of 56 games.