Jake McCabe is getting lots of trade calls but there is only one package worth taking

Jake McCabe is garnering a lot of interest on the trade market but if they do, there's only one worth even thinking about.

The Maple Leafs are certainly in the business of making some pretty big deals as of late. Not only did they trade Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit but acquired Darren Raddysh and are looking to make several more deals ahead of the NHL Draft - which is only five days away.

There's interest in Morgan Rielly, as well as Matthew Knies meanwhile there's still going to be some names like Easton Cowan and Ben Danford who find themselves targeted by rebuilding teams who are willing to part with a stable veteran for the chance to upgrade their future.

Moving McCabe only makes sense if Toronto fills the proper holes in the lineup

But the interest hasn't stopped at just the young guns or for future superstars like Knies, and according to Darren Dreger; one veteran is gaining a lot of attention.

Dreger appeared on TSN's That's Hockey and explained that McCabe has been getting some suitors from around the NHL and teams are gauging how his age and durability are going to hold up if they do decide to pursue him:

I know that there are calls coming in on Jake McCabe; teams continue to do their work around McCabe in terms of his health and what his future might look like.

McCabe, 32, is a top shutdown defenceman who has been as consistent as can be since arriving in Toronto via Chicago. He's put up 81 points in 240 games with a plus-58. 490 blocks and 482 hits and the #1 shutdown option for the Maple Leafs especially in the wake of Chris Tanev's absence.

They traded him for a first round pick so anything less than that seems like a bit of an undervalued package but if the team is able to find a proper puck-moving defender and their new 3C then it may be well worth it.

Toronto will still have Tanev, Brandon Carlo, Henry Thrun, Ben Danford and Marshall Rifai all as players who can come in and be a shutdown player. Are they the level of McCabe? No, but we also don't know who else Toronto has in mind to add to the blueline who could be at that level.

Utah needs a shutdown anchor and Toronto should target Barrett Hayton and Sean Durzi

With the onus also being on puck movement, adding Durzi would be a great fit and he's not a poor defender by any means. He also costs more than McCabe so Utah wouldn't mind giving him away, and he's not on a long-term commitment.

Then you add in Hayton, who can anchor the 3C position with ease and give the Maple Leafs a dynamic two-way player in the bottom-six. If they decide to bring back Nick Robertson, then they could form a very solid one-two punch.

Plus Hayton fills a very important need with Max Domi potentially out for the year. He would replace him and be a better offensive and defensive option while also being half a decade younger.

McCabe makes $4.5-million meanwhile Durzi makes $6-million and Hayton is an RFA. Utah gets a shutdown defender while also dumping money and not needing to find long-term money for Hayton - meanwhile Toronto shores up two big holes and gets a lot more mobile and active offensively.

Toronto can afford to re-sign Hayton and pay for Durzi, plus there's always a chance we see more money off the books via various trades or buyouts so it makes sense to kill two birds with one stone (especially if there are injury concerns).

It's a rare win for both sides though fans are certainly not going to enjoy the fact that McCabe - a shining light for four seasons - is gone so unceremoniously...or for less than what he came in for.

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