Top-Pairing Defenseman Emerges as a Potential Target for Leafs GM Brad Treliving
Brad Treliving could add himself another of his favored big-bodied defensemen this offseason as contract talks with Aaron Ekblad and Florida have been very quiet.
With all the talk and speculation regarding who Brad Treliving could add to his team via the trade market this season, the 2025 offseason is far off in the horizon when it comes to Toronto's focus.
But they should try and keep an ear open to hear if Aaron Ekblad is going to stay in Florida or test the market, as contract talks between the two parties have been fairly quiet as the defenseman approaches the final year of his deal.
Aaron Ekblad Immediately Improves Toronto's Defense
Standing 6'4, 225-pounds of muscle, Aaron Ekblad is the perfect candidate for Brad Treliving to make a splash on in free agency.
Drafted 1st overall by Florida in 2014, the former Barrie Colt has solidified himself as one of the league's toughest and most productive defensemen. Not only using his size to disrupt and cause chaos, but he has a heavy slap shot from the right side that would instantly make Toronto's offense better on the blueline.
Morgan Rielly needs a competent partner and there is no one better than Ekblad. A Stanley Cup winner, Calder Trophy winner, and two-time All-Star, Ekblad provides incredibly sound defensive metrics and be able to play both the powerplay and penalty kill.
With Mitch Marner potentially leaving and John Tavares looking to take a hometown discount, there could be money in the works to bring Ekblad aboard. He currently makes $7.5M, and with that number going up, Toronto can afford to throw $9-9.5M at him for his services.
He deserves to be paid more than Morgan Rielly regardless of how long Rielly has been in Toronto, and he desperately needs someone to elevate him instead of the other way around.
Aaron Ekblad to Toronto may seem like a pipedream, but so was getting Auston Matthews, so was getting John Tavares. Stranger things have happened in the NHL and perhaps the Leafs can luck out one more time.
