Maple Leafs Have Chance to Land Ideal Puck-Moving Defenseman

Acquiring Bowen Byram would give the Toronto Maple Leafs a strong puck-mover behind Morgan Rielly, and a potential successor on the Leafs first line.

Byram, 23, has struggled with consistency, especially in his defensive game, but has the potential to overcome his deficiencies with his puck-moving ability, but has bounced around now between two teams who have openly looked to offload him elsewhere.

After just a season and a half, Buffalo is already taking calls on Byram, and a trade to a third team after his fifth season seems cause for concern with teams constantly giving away a former top-five pick.

The same issues have plagued Byram throughout his career, and in the NHL has become even more of a challenge in growing his defensive game and being less one dimensional.

A team that acquires Byram must trust in his abilities, even while understanding his shortcomings could hinder him at times.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have a deep defensively responsible roster with one of the best defensive defensemen in the game in Chris Tanev, who paired with Byram could hide some of his issues in his own end.

A player like Byram would be a proven young talent in an older and experienced Leafs defensive core, an important need for Toronto who lack top-end defensive prospects.

Byram would also provide the Leafs with an offensive boost, not just relying on Morgan Rielly to generate the team's offense from the blueline, and a potential long-term point producer if Toronto is a stable environment for Byram.

The Toronto Maple Leafs need an effective offenseman who is both young and able to provide some production points wise, two major things Bowen Byram brings to the table, and something that could make him a highly intriguing player for multiple teams in the league, and for Toronto, one specific addition they are looking for.