Brad Treliving may be closing in on a trade for a much-needed blue-line upgrade

After news broke on Sunday that the Vegas Golden Knights had acquired Rasmus Andersson from the Calgary Flames, it put an end to one of the biggest names being thrown around in trade talks and finally puts an end to months of speculation.

But now the focus turns to Dougie Hamilton, the next biggest defenseman on the market and with several teams kicking the tires over the past few months it feels like a matter of time before he's headed out of the Garden State.

The team who has garnered the most attention when it comes to Hamilton is the Toronto Maple Leafs, as they could use his two-way play on the backend and need that extra firepower if they want to hang in amidst a tight Atlantic Division.

It's not going to be cheap, however it seems like Toronto might be the frontrunners according to Frank Seravalli regardless of cost.

Seravalli appeared on The Big Show Podcast and revealed the one team that he's consistently hearing about regarding a deal for Hamilton is still the Maple Leafs:

Hamilton is from Toronto and could be part of a growing group of players who decide to represent their hometown and put on the blue and white; John Tavares, Steven Lorentz, and Michael Pezzetta all made the choice and it's one of the main catalysts behind the Connor McDavid speculation.

It was reported that New Jersey is trying to dump off his cap, however with the fact that Calgary retained 50% on Andersson, Toronto is going to be looking for the same which means it's going to cost them.

It won't be Easton Cowan but it very well could be Ben Danford, and no doubt will the team's last first-round pick be in play as well. Add in a potential roster player as well and you're looking at quite the expensive package.

Granted, the Maple Leafs at least get a few more years out of Hamilton as opposed to Andersson who was traded without a promise of an extension and his contract fits in with the team's win-now mentality.

Hamilton, 32, has 14 points in 43 games in a bit of a down season however has 515 points in 878 games and can play everywhere on the ice, gives Toronto a real threat at the point and fits perfectly with the size quota Treliving wants.

Though as we've seen in the past, it's no guarantee. Toronto has been burned in the past and fans won't be happy if the team forgoes their future plans for yet another failed Stanley Cup chase.

So is Dougie Hamilton worth it? For Brad Treliving he very well might be.

However it's going to take some real creativity to make sure that he doesn't get fleeced yet again and history hasn't been too kind to either the Maple Leafs or their GM recently.

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