The Maple Leafs have shown exploratory interest in Zach Whitecloud, per David Pagnotta, as Chris Tanev's injury exposes Toronto's blue line.
Pagnotta said Toronto's previous management group liked Whitecloud, and he believes exploratory inquiries have taken place.
The need became obvious Thursday. Toronto led Buffalo 4-2 after 40 minutes, got outshot 11-4 in the third and lost 5-4 in overtime on an Owen Power goal.
Kirill Marchenko's hat trick went to waste, and the back end once again struggled to handle pressure.
Tanev, 36, is on injured reserve and week-to-week with an upper-body injury suffered against Colorado on Oct. 10.
The Calgary defenceman brings what Toronto lacks. He's a 6-foot-2 right shot who kills penalties, plays a physical game and won a Stanley Cup with Vegas in 2023.
He carries a $2,750,000 cap hit through 2027-28, an affordable number for a team watching every dollar.
John Chayka weighs a depth upgrade from Craig Conroy's Flames
Calgary is in no rush to sell. The Flames are 1-6-0 after a 6-2 loss to Vegas, but Anthony Di Marco reported they value Whitecloud's veteran presence on a young blue line.
The numbers are mixed. He has no points and a -5 through seven games, though his ice time jumped after arriving from Vegas.
Chayka has already been busy, adding Kirill Marchenko and, more recently, Aatu Räty from Vancouver. Another depth defenceman would fit that pattern.
Toronto should pay a second-round price and nothing more. Whitecloud steadies a pairing without changing the blue line, and a first-round pick should be saved for a true difference-maker.
It's like buying a good umbrella instead of fixing the roof. It helps when it rains, but the leak is still there.
The Leafs host the Islanders on Saturday, while Calgary hosts Carolina on Sunday.
Whitecloud would make Toronto steadier. Whether Chayka thinks steadier is enough, or keeps hunting for more, will define the Leafs' next move.
Should the Maple Leafs trade for Zach Whitecloud?
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