Report: Maple Leafs eyeing Carolina defenseman

Something that the Toronto Maple Leafs are trying to accomplish is to be able to consistently advance past the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They were able to finally break their near 20 year drought earlier this year, defeating the rival Tampa Bay Lightning in an exhilarating six game series to finally break through to Round 2.

However, the good feelings that were built up thanks to the win were quickly dispelled after the eventual Eastern Conference champion Florida Panthers dispatched the Leafs in a quick five games. The video footage of Leafs fans chanting "We want Florida" prior to the series certainly didn't help things, either. 

After moving on from now-former general manger Kyle Dubas, the Maple Leafs turned to former Calgary Flames GM Brad Treliving. He's already stated that some of his top priorities are new contracts for star forwards Auston Matthews and William Nylander, while also saying that he failed in his quest to acquire more Draft selections for his new team because it proved to be too "difficult". 

Free agency will start tomorrow, and there is one defenseman from a team who has been able to advance consistently past Round 1 of the postseason that is said to be up for grabs. Despite having one more season on his contract, the Carolina Hurricanes are said to be ready to move on from defenseman Brett Pesce, and according to a report from David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period, the Leafs are among the handful of teams who have expressed an interest in trading for him.

He writes:

"Supposedly the Canes are going to sign or trade Brett Pesce by July 1. They better hurry; nothing cooking right now on either front. He’s going into the last year of his deal & has a 15-team no-trade list. Some chatter Nashville, Vancouver & Toronto among teams who poked on him."

Drafted 66th overall by the Hurricanes in 2013, Pesce appeared in all 82 regular season games last year and racked up five goals with 25 assists. 

Recommended articles:

• Trade brewing in Edmonton that will push out several players out the door!
• Nick Ritchie lays a brutal hit on Brett Pesce, may face supplemental discipline
• Juuse Saros with highway robbery on Vincent Trochek
• Canes’ Pesce avoids suspension for dangerous move on Wings’ Fabbri!