Maple Leafs Unexpectedly Linked to Breakout Top-Four Defenseman, per Insider Report

The Leafs are being linked to former first-round pick Bowen Byram, potentially being a fit and a team that may be able to make a trade for him.

Byram, currently with the Buffalo Sabres, has seven goals and 38 points in 82 games this season, in his first full year with Buffalo after being traded at last year's trade deadline by the Colorado Avalanche, who drafted Byram fourth in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.

A report from TSN NHL Insider Darren Dreger shares that the Leafs are one team that could be a possible outcome for a deal involving Byram, but notes that Toronto looks more like a long-shot compared to other potential destinations.

Dreger noted the Los Angeles Kings, the Vegas Golden Knights, the St. Louis Blues, the Vancouver Canucks, & a potential reunion with the Colorado Avalanche.

The Leafs could be a team that could be the suitor for Bowen Byram, even if they're not the favorites.

Toronto is in need of a new, young puck-moving defenseman as the team could look to move on from Morgan Rielly, either trading him or not relying on him as their #1 defenseman and power play quarterback.

Both Rielly and Carlo were linked by Frank Seravalli as players who could be on their way out of Toronto in a deal, both placed on Seravalli's trade board for the offseason.

The Leafs will not only be looking at a potential replacement for Rielly, but one who can perhaps produce offensively on the top-line for the next few years.

The Toronto Maple Leafs need an eventual replacement for the Leafs on their left side and to replicate his offense, and Bowen Byram could be that.

Eventually, Rielly will need to get a replacement and already showing signs of decline suggests that move will need to be made soon.

Byram does have his concerns as he struggles with his defensive game and is one dimensional, but the Leafs have two strong defensive defensemen in Chris Tanev and Brandon Carlo, as well as one of the top young defensively reliable prospects in Ben Danford.

A player like Danford would not make sense to move to potentially pair with Byram long-term, but the Leafs do have a few options in terms of trade even with a light farm, which makes adding youth much more of a necessity.

The future of the Toronto Maple Leafs on defense is going to need an offensive identity beyond Morgan Rielly, and the move of Byram could be a natural replacement and the player leading the Leafs blueline in the next few years.