If the Maple Leafs were looking to pursue a top defenceman, they lost one off the list as Adam Fox's availability is padlocked shut by GM Chris Drury.
We have talked a lot about potential top defenceman the Toronto Maple Leafs could bring in to help make things a bit more stable on the backend. They were linked to Dougie Hamilton, Simon Nemec, Erik Karlsson, Quinn Hughes - you name it; they were part of it.
Still on the search for a replacement for Morgan Rielly, the team is going to need to get a little bit creative to not only get his money off the books but also give them a chance to actually revamp the lineup and fill the hole Rielly leaves behind.
We also talked a lot about the New York Rangers' moves over the past few months and how they are focusing on rebuilding. Trading away several veterans, there was a chance that Adam Fox could be on the list too. He would cost an extravagant package but to bring in one of the best offensive defenders in the game, it's well worth it.
Chris Drury slams the door shut on any potential Adam Fox deal
But while the Maple Leafs would have to pay a huge sum to bring him in, it seems like no matter what they are going to offer it wouldn't matter anyway.
According to Elliotte Friedman, teams had approached the Rangers regarding Fox and whether or not he would be available for a potential deal, and GM Chris Drury entertained that for about half a second before shutting the door:
I think teams asked Drury about Adam Fox and I think he basically told them to get lost.
Well, that's disheartening for John Chayka and the Maple Leafs considering how good Fox would have been and instantly slotted in as the new #1 on the backend.
Fox, 28, had 53 points in 55 games for the Rangers this past season and has 422 points in 486 games (72 goals, 350 assists) while also adding a staggering plus-122, 752 blocks and 221 hits over his career. He's a two-way monster and is consistently in the running for the Norris.
But he's in the thick of his prime and Drury wants to build around Fox as part of the solution, and it's clear that he isn't going to be swayed.
Toronto needs to pivot but they are running out of time
With the fact they are losing out on Fox, the Maple Leafs have to switch gears if they feel like Rielly isn't going to be part of things going forward.
They could still pursue names like Karlsson and Hamilton though are taking on more money than Rielly with them already in the red. There was a Zach Werenski deal floating about but without Matthew Knies and a commitment from the defender to Columbus - that's dead too.
Right now, the team has about a month and a half before they really need to settle things in their lineup, and while that's more than enough time, the longer it takes to find a Rielly deal to open up any space means they'll be scrambling and rushing to add if they deal Rielly with no backup plan.
We can't really see any deals made without Rielly traded away, and there's a real chance we see him starting with the team this year. It could have been different if Toronto had a shot at Adam Fox, but with the door slammed shut - they're praying another opens soon.
Which defender would you prefer to see replace Morgan Rielly on the Maple Leafs?
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