Maple Leafs among 15 teams scouting Bruins vs Blues tonight

Scouts for the Toronto Maple Leafs were listened in attendance in Boston for the Bruins game against the St. Louis Blues, along with 14 other teams, according to Bruins reporter Shaun Hutcheon.

Pro scouting isn't unusual, and doesn't even mean anything trade wise, with pro scouting even used for analysis and free agency, but notable are the two teams have trade connections with Toronto.

The Leafs made a trade last season with the Bruins, acquiring defenseman Brandon Carlo in exchange for prospect forward Fraser Minten.

While Boston and Toronto have made trades in the past, the more likely reason if they're in attendance to scout trade chips, it's more likely to be for St. Louis.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have already been linked together this season with potential trade discussions, as have the Blues, although in different directions.

It was previously reported by insider David Pagnotta that the Blues were already looking at being potential sellers on the trade market, and have been evaluating their options. Toronto on the other hand, is reported to have interest being a buyer.

One name that has frequently circulated in rumors involving Toronto extending back to last season is forward Brayden Schenn, again a potential trade target after the Blues decided not to deal him.

Schenn, 34, has four goals and nine points this season in 27 games for the Blues, who sit seventh in the Central Division with a 9-11-7 record.

Toronto still has an existing need in the bottom-six from last season where they tried to acquire Schenn, although they still have to solve the cap ramifications with Schenn's $6.5M salary.

One factor of the Blues/Leafs links are former Blues and current Leafs head coach Craig Berube, who coached Schenn and other top Blues in Jordan Kyrou, Robert Thomas, & Oskar Sundqvist, members of the 2019 Stanley Cup winning team coached by Berube.

Blues President of Hockey Operations Peter Chiarelli was at the Toronto Maple Leafs game on Nov. 23 against the Montreal Canadiens.

The St. Louis Blues are a team lurking early in trade rumors, and the Toronto Maple Leafs have kept an eye on each other as both teams look poised to be active on the open market.