Everyone (including myself) has been talking about what centre the Toronto Maple Leafs should trade for, but I think they need a defenseman, instead.
If the Toronto Maple Leafs can't score enough goals in the playoffs with a roster that has seven players who have scored 20 or more goals in a season, and three that have scored 40-plus before, then they don't deserve to win.
The Leafs offense isn't the problem and although their power-play isn't clicking right now, it's not because of the talent. Instead, the coaching staff needs to figure it out and help ignite some fire into something that this team should be exceptional at.
The Leafs blue-line is, overall, pretty bad. At best, it's middle of the pack, and because McCabe and Tanev are somewhat old and injury prone, they are always one injury away from having OEL and Myers in their top four in a playoff game. That's totally unacceptable.
Meanwhile, by splitting up Marner, Matthews and Nylander on to their own seperate line, the Leafs could avoid having to add a significant forward.
Leafs Should Go After a Defenseman Instead of a Forward
Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz may be able to steal the Leafs a playoff series, but they are still "rookies" to the playoffs, so I would much rather see Toronto bulk up their defense than rely on what we have.
Sure, someone like Brock Nelson or Scott Laughton would help the team's top-nine and improve their depth, but neither is going to move the needle all that much. The Leafs need to aim higher.
It's tough to know who that exact defenseman would be right now, but the specific player isn't exactly the point here. The Leafs are going to be able to check in with every single team that won't make the playoffs, and you never know who might end up being available.
Last year Scott Walker, Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev all were traded at the deadline. The Leafs need to find this year's version of those players.
There will be multiple names that get rumored over the next few months, but I really hope the Leafs go after a defenseman, instead of a forward because that will be a bigger difference-maker as they get set for a Stanley Cup run.