Maple Leafs have an ideal PTO option to protect against Chris Tanev uncertainty

Despite the Maple Leafs being at 50 contracts, they can still add players on PTO and Nick Blankenburg is the perfect addition to round out their blueline.

With the Toronto Maple Leafs' regular season starting up in roughly three weeks, that doesn't leave them a lot of time to tie up any loose ends and with them already at 50 contacts - they have to clear space if they are contemplating any future moves.

However they do have an avenue to try out some veterans and see how they fit without committing, and that's via a PTO. There have been names such as Patrik Laine and Vladimir Tarasenko who have been floated as options, but their focus should lie on their older and injury-prone blueline.

Blankenburg's 24-point season makes him unusually proven for a late PTO option

There's a player on the open market who surprinsgly still hasn't gotten an offer - Nick Blankenburg. The 28-year-old put up 24 points in 61 games with both the Nashville Predators and Colorado Avalanche, while adding 59 blocks and 55 hits in 16:49 TOI.

While he's only 5-foot-9, he plays much larger than his size dictates - much like Emil Andrae. Plus, he would offer a younger version of Troy Stecher, maintaining that two-way depth while also still under 30.

He's got a great hockey IQ, manages to find his teammates with ease, is a strong skater, and plays a lot more physical than you'd think.

Plus, he offers versatility at 5v5, the power-play, and penalty kill because he's able to dictate the pace at both ends of the ice. Toronto has prided themselves on getting more mobile and have better puck movement on the back end, and Blankenburg has proven that he can be a suitable third-pairing defender with some offensive upside.

Toronto can audition Blankenburg now, but signing him would force another roster move

But beyond that offensive upside that Blankenburg could bring, it's quite pertinent that the Maple Leafs find themselves with enough depth and insurance to cover any potential Chris Tanev absence.

Tanev admitted that he hasn't yet been cleared for action and coming into camp there's concerns he either won't be healthy enough to start the season - or camp altogether. Toronto's options outside of Stecher and Andrae don't leave much to be desired and there aren't too many Marlies who can offer the same skillset of Blankenburg.

Plus when you look at Toronto's forward depth, they have more than enough bodies who can replace anyone who goes down especially after the signing of Brendan Brisson.

Whereas their defensive depth isn't exactly stellar once you get past Andrae. Philippe Myers isn't really a viable option, Dakota Mermis is a better mentor with the Marlies, and bringing up a player like Ben Danford or Noah Chadwick before they are ready is a tough sell.

Adding Blankenburg for a league minimum or even the same price as Myers would give Toronto a much more reliable two-way defender with more upside than your other depth options, younger and more offensive than Stecher and a strong replacement for Tanev should he not be ready for the year.

If there's anyone the Maple Leafs should be targeting for a PTO, it's Nick Blankenburg.

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