Insider Confirms that Lybushkin isn't The Only Trade Brad Treliving and the Leafs are Looking to Make

PUBLICATION

Dawson Mckenzie
March 1, 2024 (2:37 PM)

SHARE THIS STORY

This NHL insider has just given us a peek into what Leafs' GM Brad Treliving is thinking regarding the Lybushkin trade, and what move he is looking to make next.

Elliotte Friedman Reveals That the Toronto Maple Leafs Exacerbated Trade Talks After Giordano Injury

Everyone knew the Toronto Maple Leafs were looking at bolstering their blueline ahead of this year's deadline. However, it became even more clear last night when Mark Giordano went down after a huge collision with the boards, and has been ruled out with a head injury. Insider Elliotte Friedman revealed today that this injury exacerbated trade talks between Toronto and Anaheim for Lybushkin.

"Yeah, they were talking [TOR/ANA], but all of a sudden it intensified. Giordano gets hurt, and first of all, you want to wish the best for Mark Giordano. That was a really heavy collision into the boards... While [the trade] wasn't directly as a result of the injury, there's no question that that exacerbated things. They were looking for a right-hand shot anyway, they know Lyubushkin... They were looking at a lot of right-shot D...

Obviously, the Leafs have been active on the defensive market this entire year, however, they obviously were quick to get a sure thing done in order to keep bodies on the roster.

Friedman Reveals the Leafs Could Still be Looking at Ferraro From the Sharks

With Lybushkin on such a retained salary, the Leafs still have a lot of room to make another move for a defenseman ahead of the deadline. Friedman believes that they still could be looking at Mario Ferraro of the San Jose Sharks, despite him being a left-handed shot.

One of the guys I've wondered for Toronto, if it would make any sense for them, is a guy like Mario Ferraro, just because he's a guy San Jose's looked to move and he's a local guy, but he's a left-hand shot and they've got a lot of left hand shots. As I was kind of looking around, that was another name that kind of stood out to me... They do have some room to do some other things."

We will see if the Toronto Maple Leafs are still interested in Ferraro, or any other defensemen, as they continue to shop ahead of the deadline.

As seen on Maple Leafs Daily - "Insider reveals why the Leafs brought back Lyubushkin, confirms that there's another move on the way"