Brad Treliving to Target 26-year-old Defenseman in a Trade According to NHL Analyst

A few days ago, the Toronto Maple Leafs decided to trade the 25-year-old defenseman Liljegren to the San Jose Sharks. With the surplus in defensemen, many believed trading one would solve a part of the problem. However, Treliving traded him for another defenseman: Matt Benning.

This move surprised a lot of people, leaving many experts, including Elliotte Friedman, to think Treliving would be tempted to flip the Leafs' latest acquisition:



Kevin Papetti, a reporter for The Athletic, mentioned that Treliving could target another defenseman on the trade market: Juuso Valimaki.

On X, the reporter shared that Valimaki, who was drafted by Treliving and the Flames in 2017, could compete for a spot with Simon Benoit. He added that Utah, Valimaki's current team, could be interested in acquiring a right-handed defenseman for a left-handed, making Benning, Leafs' recent acquisition, a potential target.

Valimaki and his $2 million AAV contract set to end in 2026 could be a tempting option for the Leafs. This season, he's yet to score a point in nine games, but the 2017 16th overall pick, at 6'4" and 221 pounds, brings a physical presence at the blue line, something Treliving appreciates.

As for Benning, he's in a great position to help the Maple Leafs have a great regular season. However, the 30-year-old veteran could also help his new organization by being a trade asset. The Leafs could take advantage of the fact that right-handed defensemen have a high value on the trade market to generate a beneficial return.

It'll be interesting to see if Treliving decides to use Benning for his value on the market, or his on-ice talents. This season, in seven games with the Sharks, the defensive defenseman hasn't scored a point and has a -5 goal differential.