The Toronto Maple Leafs Need to Trade for an Elite Defenseman, Here's 10 Options

The Toronto Maple Leafs need to make a big change.

Oct 16, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev (8) speaks with forward Auston Matthews in the second period against the Los Angeles Kings at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Oct 16, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev (8) speaks with forward Auston Matthews in the second period against the Los Angeles Kings at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images | Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
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Noah Dobson

Noah Dobson is 6'4, and he scored 70 points last year in 70 games. More impressive - he did it on the New York Islanders.

The former 12th overall pick is right-handed, and working on making this his 4th straight season with 49 points or more. He's on the verge of being a top-ten NHL defenseman, and could be exactly what the Leafs need.

The Islanders likely don't want to trade him, but in professional sports, whenever a newly minted star player is in the last year of his contract and the team he plays for isn't going anywhere fast, there is always the possibility of a trade.

The Islanders are a poorly managed, middle-of-the-pack team with a decent core, but not one that is likely to ascend to the top of the league anytime soon. A package of propsects and picks, or even one elite forward, might just be preferabble to re-siging Dobson for $8.5 million or more after this season.

The Toronto Maple Leafs, on the other hand, could easily afford to pay him with the money they will no longer be paying John Tavares. Dobson, along with Werenski and Seider, is one of the three best options available to the Leafs if they want to acquire a top-of-the-lineup defenseman.

What follows is a quick list of seven other options that are extremely unlikely, but which should, nevertheless, be explored thorgoughly, just in case.

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