It's becoming clearer what type of defenseman the Maple Leafs are targeting on the trade market

The status of the Toronto Maple Leafs defensive situation is now known, and a clear trait that the Leafs and GM Brad Treliving is being revealed.

A recent report from Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman stated that the Leafs had been targeting defenseman Egor Zamula, with the teamhaving looked at their options with the 25-year-old Russian blueliner.

Zamula was recently traded from the Philadelphia Flyers to the Pittsburgh Penguins, but requested a contract termination in order to sign elsewhere, doing so with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

What is notable isn't that the Leafs were in on Zamula, but makes clear some things that revoles around Toronto's search for a defenseman.

There are two key things to note with the report of the Leafs targeting Egor Zamula. The first is something unsurprising in that Brad Treliving is looking to add size.

Treliving's tenure has been focused towards adding big bodies to the roster, and Zamula at 6'3 is no change in that regards.

The more notable thing of focus with the rumor is that it indicates the Leafs focus on adding a defenseman doesn't just end with a potential blockbuster move, but a move for depth defense is something being considered as well.

Zamula is a depth defenseman, less flashy than a player like Rasmus Andersson; a player that Toronto has been heavily linked to. The Leafs appear willing to add to their bottom-four as much as to their top pairing depending on what comes along.

There are a few players who could be intriguing for Toronto to add size besides a top player like Andersson. One name that would add size and skill is former Maple Leaf Timothy Liljegren.

Having been dealt to San Jose last season, Liljegren is becoming a top-four defenseman for the Sharks, but on a team lacking right-handed depth. That lack of depth may keep Toronto from getting Liljegren back, unless a righty goes the other way.

Lacking themselves on the right side due to injuries, Toronto has options with a few young right-handed defensemen, with Nashville's Nick Perbix an interesting option. The 6'4 defenseman is a solid bottom-four physical presence.

For end of lineup depth, Toronto had been linked to two options in the past in Chicago's Louis Crevier, a 6'8 defenseman who could fill a role on the third pairing, and St. Louis defenseman Matthew Kessel, the 25-year-old showing potential on a struggling Blues team.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are signaling that whether it's an impact defenseman or a depth add, the Leafs blueline is open for business.

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