New trade target in Toronto despite Lyubushkin trade!

While the Toronto Maple Leafs acquired right-shot defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin from the Anaheim Ducks, thanks to brokers Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night, chatter remains that general manager could look to add another blue liner to his crew.

Several names have been linked to the Leafs in recent days, most notably Arizona Coyotes’ Matt Dumba, Nashville Predators’ Alexandre Carrier and Philadelphia Flyers’ Sean Walker, though the latter could command a first-round pick, which is what Treliving has been trying to avoid giving up in a trade for a defenseman. On Friday, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman added a new trade target of the Maple Leafs as the insider explains on the 32 Thoughts podcast with Jeff Marek how Toronto could go after Washington Capitals blue liner Nick Jensen.

“They were looking at a lot of right-shot D… I heard Nick Jensen was kind of name that they were looking at,” Friedman said.

Despite the Lyubushkin trade, Marek added that the Maple Leafs could continue to explore trades ahead of next Friday.

“There’s still room for moves,” Marek pointed out.

Since he was acquired by Washington in 2019, Jensen has proven to be a solid defensive addition to the team and could be the added boost Toronto seeks. He plays a shut down game, and carries a cap hit of $4.05 million and has two years left on the extension he signed last season.

Jensen has been sidelined from the Capitals’ lineup for the past two games, but he is expected to return tonight against the Philadelphia Flyers. The Maple Leafs could take a closer look at him before working on a trade ahead of the deadline.

Some fans are still hoping that a monster trade is in the works, which could bring now the most coveted defenseman in Noah Hanifin of the Flames to Toronto… however, Treliving wasn’t able to convince his former team to strike a deal with him for Tanev, and so, there might be little hope there.

Jensen seems like a more plausible option for Treliving and the Maple Leafs. 

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