Multiple Leafs executives scouting rival team this evening

With Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving all but confirming that he's looking to trade defenseman Timothy Liljegren, it shouldn't be surprising that Leafs scouts are out there pounding the pavement.

What is surprising though is that Leafs scouts are reportedly in Montreal tonight to scout the Montreal Canadiens and, presumably, their opponent the Los Angeles Kings.

Habs insider Karine Hains reports that the Leafs have three scouts at the Bell Centre this evening scouting the game.

Check it out:

Could we see a trade between the two bitter rivals?

Read below for our earlier report on the trade rumors concerning Liljegren.

Earlier this month, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reported that the Toronto Maple Leafs are looking for a "landing spot" via trade for defenseman Timothy Liljegren after a weak training camp and failing to crack the opening night roster.

"Sounds like Toronto is working to find a landing spot for Timothy Liljegren," Friedman wrote for Sportsnet last week. "He’s down the depth chart, not a situation anyone is happy with."

Liljegren has slid so far down the team's depth chart that he's now the 7th or even best 8th defenseman. Morgan Rielly, Chris Tanev, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Jake McCabe, Simon Benoit, Conor Timmins and Jani Hakanpaa all hold down spots above him in the Leafs' defensive rankings.

"Lilly's got to do things quicker. He's got to be a little bit heavier in his battles and move into pucks quicker and simplify the game," head coach Craig Berube said last week. "He's obviously battling. He wants to be a guy in the lineup every night, and that's great. But sometimes you kind of put too much on your plate, right?

"Simplify the game a little bit more. If I had to say anything, simplify his game a little bit more. And just do your job as a defenseman, killing plays and being heavy."

Now, Liljegren himself is speaking on the rumors and he's making it clear that he's not a fan of the way things are playing out.

"Yeah, not fun not playing, but I've been trying to come in, work as hard as I can to get back in the lineup.

If something happens, it happens."

- Timothy Liljegren

Any takers?