Maple Leafs have been linked to 6'7 Blackhawks defenseman Louis Crevier in new chatter
Photo credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
A circulating post on social media suggested the Maple Leafs have interest in Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Louis Crevier.
Currently dealing with an injury to defenseman Chris Tanev, and struggling to prevent teams from scoring, the Toronto Maple Leafs have been considered a team looking to improve on the backend.
The chatter picked up after a user on X noted that the Leafs may have interest in Crevier:
FYI leafs interested in Louis Crevier, Chicago has too many bodies on D and are looking for a swap potentially at a F. They're running 11/7 tonight as a showcase.
He's 6'7 and needs waivers to go down. Jarnkrok as an all situations F at 775k would help their young team.
He's 6'7 and needs waivers to go down. Jarnkrok as an all situations F at 775k would help their young team.
This comment is in relation to the news that Toronto was sending scouts to the Blackhawks/Devils game on Wednesday.
Why Louis Crevier's name is surfacing around the Maple Leafs
As the team navigates their injury issues, Crevier as a target makes sense.
Drafted 188th overall by the Blackhawks in 2020, Crevier has minimal experience at the NHL level, but offers a new dynamic of defense. Standing 6'7 (6'8 on Hockey Reference) and weighing nearly 230 pounds -- he's a big presence on the ice.
In 71 games he's recorded 13 points, 109 blocks, 122 hits, and a minus-15 rating; his defensive numbers have improved dramatically, jumping 7 points from minus-22 the past two seasons.
His handedness is also a factor, as he is a right-handed shot, which would allow the Maple Leafs to play Oliver Ekman-Larsson on the left side if they so choose, and he's averaged 77.23 MPH on his shots, hitting as high as 98.26 MPH.
That would be both higher than their hardest shot this season, and a near 20 MPH increase over what their defenders are putting out, and for a team who's system relies on traffic in front of the net -- adding that extra speed would benefit them.
Whether Chicago is even open to moving Crevier will ultimately determine whether this chatter turns into something more concrete.
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