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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
ANAHEIM, CA – DECEMBER 29: Brandon Montour #26 of the Anaheim Ducks defends against Johnny Gaudreau #13 of the Calgary Flames during the second period of a game at Honda Center on December 29, 2017 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Anaheim Ducks

The Leafs and Ducks have been trade partners on numerous occasions and they could do so once again. Anaheim has an ageing roster and will look to usher in their young prospects to eventually take over but most of them are probably not ready yet.

One thing is for certain, Anaheim has strong depth on the blueline led by Cam Fowler and Hampus Lindholm. They recently signed Andrej Sustr and Luke Schenn to one-year deals so the team has a lot of options to consider.

Their top players on the right side without a doubt are Josh Manson and Brandon Montour and if wither would be available, the Leafs should jump on the chance to acquire them.

Manson (26-years-old) was a sixth-round pick in 2011 and plays a shutdown role with the Ducks and excels at it because of his physicality. Last season was not his best when it comes to advanced stats with a 49.9 CF% and a 50.5 FF% but is typically a strong possession player and was heavily used in the defensive zone by Randy Carlyle.

He would be a player that Carlyle would lobby to keep around at all costs so he is probably untradeable.

Montour is a younger player that just played his first full season in the NHL and is seen as more of an offensive player but just scratching the surface when it comes to his ability.

There is no way the Ducks would want Jake Gardiner in a trade with the Leafs mainly because they don’t need him. They could try to gauge the market for a player like Montour who filed for arbitration but that doesn’t mean that he’s available.

It would be tough to see Bob Murray wanting to move another young blueliner off his team after losing Shea Theodore to Vegas and having to trade Sami Vatanen to New Jersey.

However, the Ducks do need to add some youth to their team which is where the Leafs could provide some options considering they have more NHL ready players that could interest Anaheim.

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