Top defensive trade target previously linked to Leafs now out indefinitely with long-term injury
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Going into this season, Leafs GM Brad Treliving was known to think that the team's defense corps was a work in progress. Now, through the first few games of the season, it's clear the team could use an upgrade on the blueline.
Treliving has been quoted before as wanting to add size to the Leafs' back end, and were once rumoured to be pursuing Brett Pesce of the Carolina Hurricanes, but it looks like that option may come off the table.
Pesce missed the Hurricanes' last game against the Avalanche and the communication from the team indicated they believed the injury to be day-to-day. Today, Canes' coach Rob Brind'Amour revealed that the injury will be much longer and could not specify a time frame for recovery, emphasizing that whatever the injury was, it was significant.
It's poor news for the Hurricanes, the Leafs, and any other team that was looking to acquire him. Pesce is a quality defenseman lauded for his impact in the analytics community, and also passes the eye-test as a high end player. The Hurricanes seemed amenable to moving him to clear out a position of strength at defense, and presumably shred salary and add to the forward group.
***Update - Pesce has undergone surgery and could miss up to a month of action, per Canes PR***
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 25 | 200 ANSWERS Top defensive trade target previously linked to Leafs now out indefinitely with long-term injury Will Brett Pesce be a Leaf before this year's trade deadline? | ||
| Yes | 52 | 26 % |
| No | 148 | 74 % |
| List of polls | ||
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