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Toronto Maple Leafs: 4 teams to call to trade for a defenceman

By David Morassutti

COLUMBUS, OH - DECEMBER 20: Head coach Mike Babcock of the Toronto Maple Leafs talks to his players during a time out in the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on December 20, 2017 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus defeated Toronto 4-2. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - DECEMBER 20: Head coach Mike Babcock of the Toronto Maple Leafs talks to his players during a time out in the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on December 20, 2017 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus defeated Toronto 4-2. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Maple Leafs
WINNIPEG, MANITOBA – APRIL 20: Blake Wheeler #26 of the Winnipeg Jets looks for a pass to teammate Kyle Connor #81 under pressure from Nick Seeler #36 and Matt Dumba #24 of the Minnesota Wild in Game Five of the Western Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 20, 2018 at Bell MTS Place in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Jason Halstead /Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Blake Wheeler; Kyle Connor; Nick Seeler; Matt Dumba /

Minnesota Wild

With a new general manager, the Wild come into this season with new expectations after losing out in the first round to the Winnipeg Jets.

Minnesota has always been a strong defensive team but if Ryan Suter isn’t the same player after his fractured ankle, the Wild could be without its workhorse on the blueline.

The team has many options to consider on the blueline with Jonas Brodin, Jared Spurgeon, Matt Dumba and Greg Pateryn to help fill the void. The real question is whether they have done enough upfront to be competitive for next season.

If the Leafs could gauge the price for Spurgeon, Brodin or Dumba they could give the Leafs some stability in their top four but it’ll also come at a high cost.

What could benefit the Leafs is the fact that Minnesota will need to move salary in order to re-sign some key players. Maybe giving Jake Gardiner in a deal for one of the above defenceman would be a good start and it gives the Wild some cap flexibility beyond this upcoming season.

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