REPORT: Toronto Maple Leafs Linked to Shutdown Defenseman From the Washington Capitals

The Toronto Maple Leafs are looking to improve their defense in any way possible and they have now been linked to a shutdown defenseman from the Capitals.

Treliving And The Toronto Maple Leafs Targeting Capitals Defenseman Edumundson

Recently, insider David Pagnotta revealed that there are many teams targeting Washington Capitals defenseman Joel Edmundson. Among those teams, the Toronto Maple Leafs stand as arguably the most plausible team to land him as they have room for him.








Edmundson is in his 9th season in the NHL and first with the Capitals. He has previously played for the Blues (winning a Stanley Cup with them in 2019), the Hurricanes, and the Canadiens.

Edmundson was traded from the Canadiens to the Capitals this offseason and has been solid with the team in a bottom-pairing role. He is second among Capitals defensemen in +/- and many advanced metrics show Edmundson to be a solid defensive defenseman.

Edmundson's Fit On The Leafs

Edmundson would certainly be playing on the bottom pair in Toronto but would have the capability to play larger minutes if he was asked to by Coach Keefe.

Edmundson is a left-handed defenseman that can play on the right side similar to Jake McCabe and TJ Brodie. If he were to play on his off side, he would likely play alongside Mark Giordano or Simon Benoit to form one of the better shutdown pairs in the NHL.