Brad Treliving and Maple Leafs Urged to Make a Push for Star Free Agent Defenseman
If the Maple Leafs wanted to add some much needed offensive firepower to their defense, they could look to Europe and sign a star blueliner playing in Sweden.
With all the questions surrounding whether or not the Maple Leafs are going to make a trade for a defenseman or a forward at this year's trade deadline, speculation runs rampant as the team is linked to several big names.
But if they wanted to go a different route, they could take a look overseas at one star defenseman who is lighting it up in the Swedish pro league.
Why Charles-Édouard D'Astous Is Intriguing For Maple Leafs
The 26 year old from Rimouski has been lighting the lamp wherever he goes, and has enjoyed a lot of success in Europe.
In his total career overseas, he has 36 goals and 71 assists in 152 games while playing for KooKoo of the Finnish pro league before transferring to Brynas IF in Sweden.
He completely dominated at the junior level, and with his four seasons in Rimouski, D'Astous had 49 goals and 132 assists in 244 games and ending with a plus-47 and also played with New York Rangers top pick Alexis Lafrenière.
But he's also a big body at 6'2, and while only 187 pounds, can easily gain a few more pounds of muscle. He has experience in North America as he played in both the AHL and ECHL.
He was invited to both the St. Louis Blues and Ottawa Senators junior development camps, but never stuck around at the NHL level. After a few seasons in the AHL and ECHL he went to Europe where he's been ever since.
The intriguing part of his play is just how much he improves everywhere he goes, and if he can dominate the best in Europe, he can easily translate that to the NHL level.
If the Maple Leafs were to bring D'Astous aboard, he could fit in perfectly as a third-line offensive catalyst alongside Simon Benoit.
He could potentially find himself alongside Morgan Rielly and form a dynamic 1-2 punch a la Bryan McCabe and Tomas Kaberle (with a bit of a hit on defense).
He wouldn't be an expensive option, wouldn't cost Toronto one of their prospects or picks, and the team can get a dynamic offensive defenseman in his prime.
It's a deal the Maple Leafs need to make, and with their options slim at the NHL level, perhaps overseas is the next best place to find their impact player.
![Feb 13, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Auston Matthews (34) looks on against Team Finland in the second period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/531249.webp "Feb 13, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Auston Matthews (34) looks on against Team Finland in the second period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images")
![Feb 13, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Auston Matthews (34) looks on against Team Finland in the first period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/531292.webp "Feb 13, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Auston Matthews (34) looks on against Team Finland in the first period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images")
