Maple Leafs Could Be at the Center of a Major Trade, According to Elliotte Friedman

Although the NHL regular season has just gotten underway, that doesn't mean the speculation and rumors are going to stop. If anything, you can expect a lot more heat in the coming weeks, especially with several teams looking to still add pieces.

One of those teams are the Toronto Maple Leafs, and though they Brough in a bunch of new faces already this past offseason, they are still lacking that true top-six mainstay and are going to rely on players like Max Domi and Matias Maccelli to hold it down up top.

However while they haven't made a move just yet, that doesn't mean they aren't working towards one.

At least that is what NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman believes, and his appearance on the Morning Cuppa Hockey podcast explained that Toronto and a few others are looking to make some moves:

Vancouver has been desperate to add a 2C considering they are going to run with Filip Chytil; the main piece in the JT Miller trade. However while good, he is much more suited to the third-line for now especially if the Canucks want to compete.

Carolina seems to be a team who doesn't mind making a trade, whether it's for a superstar like Mikko Rantanen or shoring up their future with a player like K'Andre Miller.

But Toronto, who lacks a true top-six forward, they seem to be the team who needs the most help. Not that the team is bad, but the fact they lost a 100-point player in Mitch Marner undeniably hurts them.

So you need to find some way to replace that, and depending on how the season turns out they have options. If Pittsburgh falters early, they can target a Bryan Rust or Rickard Rakell, part with some mid-tier prospects, and solidify their lineup.

But that is all dependent on the next two or three months of the season, but Brad Treliving is going to be doing his homework as he tries to make a deal to ensure his team is prepared for what lies ahead.