Are trade winds blowing in Leafs Nation?

After 5 games of the 2016-2017 we are starting to hear about potential trades involving our beloved Leafs.

We knew coming into this season that the one Achilles heel for the Leafs would be their defense and the requirement to close out the top 4 on defense by acquiring a match for Morgan Reilly.

With that said, reports over the weekend have stated that Anaheim had been scouting the Leafs games during the Leafs’ west coast swing. What has flamed the fire of these developments is the fact that these teams have come together on 16 trades since the 2008 season and both appear to have what the other one needs to swing this potentially big trade between these teams.

From Anaheim’s perspective Toronto offers up a destination to shed some salary to make room to sign Lindholm to a contract extension which may cost the Ducks either Cam Fowler or Shea Theodore to make this happen.

From the Leafs perspective, the glaring need is on defense where the Leafs still need another top 4 defenseman. With Morgan Reilly, Nikita Zaitsev and Connor Carrick already solidifying their spots, the rest of the defense core leaves much to be desired.

Jake Gardiner for all his high end skill on the offense side of the puck, continues to give coaches and fans fits of anger when he continues to repeat the same mistakes that found him in the doghouse with coaches in the past and I don’t think coach Babcock is content with Gardiner’s brain lapses on the ice. Than after that we have Roman Polak, Matt Hunwick, Martin Marincin and Frank Corrado which is a drop off from the top 3 and in need of critical changes.

If there is a fire, where smoke is currently than the Leafs are about to acquire another huge piece of their puzzle. So the importance of acquiring a defenseman like Fowler or Theodore to round out the top 4 can’t be understated for the Leafs while they work on their accession up the standings and into playoff contention than Stanley Cup contention over the next couple of years.

The next couple of weeks could get interesting Leafs Nation. So stay tuned to Centre of Leafs Nation for all breaking trade news and rumors.