No. 3: Carson Soucy
If the Leafs are looking to add a player with size and someone with term, there’s nobody in the marketplace that fits that mold better than Carson Soucy.
Soucy is a giant.
He’s 6-foot-5, 211 pounds and is an intimidating force on the blue-line. Currently making $2.75M through the 2022-23 season, Soucy would be a nice addition to Toronto’s defensive group for this season and next.
The left-shot defenseman can play both sides, which is a huge plus on Toronto’s blue-line, especially with Jake Muzzin currently out of the line-up. Muzzin’s injury gives Toronto a lot of cap-space flexibility, but even if Muzzin returns before the season ends, the Leafs could still add Soucy easily.
One of Toronto’s biggest issues right now is goaltending, but more shutdown defenders can help regain the confidence of the goaltenders and make their job easier.
Soucy has a career-high seven goals this season, but he’s more known for his shutdown play and for being a defensive-defenseman, so he’s exactly what Toronto is missing out on and would be a big addition over Travis Dermott and Justin Holl.