Toronto Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka has been hard at work as of late, and it appears as though Elliotte Friedman has an inside scoop on what he's doing.
While the Toronto Maple Leafs clearly have a phenomenal offense bolstered by Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Kirill Marchenko, Easton Cowan, and others, the defense is an issue.
Morgan Rielly and Oliver Ekman-Larsson have been showing their age, even if they did play well against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Meanwhile, Chris Tanev is injured, and Jake McCabe could be forced to miss some time as well after taking a stick to the face on Tuesday night.
At this time, it is no secret that the Leafs want to make a move and fix their defense. Although the extent of that move has been debated.
According to Elliotte Friedman, speaking on the FAN Hockey Show, general manager John Chayka is actually looking to take a "big swing."
I do think they are looking to see what kind of a big swing they can take on the blueline
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These are strong words from the insider, who has consistently proven time and time again that he has the best and most accurate sources in the entire NHL.
Who are the Maple Leafs going after?
It would appear as though the most obvious players on the Maple Leafs' radar are Simon Edvinsson and Alexander Nikishin, who are both looking for trades right now.
Of course, the Leafs would love a number one defenseman, but unfortunately for them, those kinds of players are rarely available through trade.
Either way, this latest report is just further proof that general manager John Chayka is not scared to throw his weight around and try something new.
Do you believe the Toronto Maple Leafs will trade for a defenseman?
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