Report: Maple Leafs sniffing around the Blue Jackets?

The Toronto Maple Leafs lost a bit of toughness on the blue line this summer when defenseman Justin Holl decided to cross the border and join the Original 6 and Atlantic Division rival Detroit Red Wings. 

In his place, new Leafs general manager Brad Treliving lured Swedish-born John Klingberg to Toronto after he spent last season with both the Anaheim Ducks and Minnesota Wild. But Klingberg isn't exactly known for being a physical presence.

According to one recently circulating rumor, the Leafs could be eyeballing Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Andrew Peeke, a 6'3 defenseman originally from Florida who played 80 games last season, registering 13 points but with a rather ghastly -41 plus-minus rating.

He's also set to start a new three-year contract extension that carries a cap hit of $2.75 million a season. 

Via Maple Leafs Insider, should the team go in this direction, they may have to sacrifice T.J. Brodie and his cap hit in order to make Peeke fit in the lineup: 

"Swapping Brodie for Peeke would be an easy way to make the Leafs cap compliant as they would save $2.25M, but moving Brodie may not be the ideal option. Brodie may not be physical, but he is the Leafs' best defensive defenseman and is an integral part of the penalty kill, particularly now that Justin Holl is gone.

Peeke might be a fine addition, but acquiring him at the cost of losing Brodie might not be the play here. The Leafs have already parted ways with several defensively adept forwards this summer in favour of more offense up front. We don't yet know what the fallout of some of these departures will be, and until we know that, I'm not sure parting with the team's top defensive presence is the smartest of moves."

Leafs fans, would this be the right move for Treliving to make? 

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