Injury Takes Yet Another Potential Maple Leafs Trade Target Off the List

With the Toronto Maple Leafs scrambling to make a deal on the eve of the trade deadline, they will have to scratch off another name in St. Louis Blues defenseman Colton Parayko.

The Blues announced earlier today that the rugged defenseman will be sidelined for the next 6 weeks due to a knee injury. He will undergo a scope on the affected area and be re-evaluated in a month and a half, which effectively takes him out of the running for contending teams.

The Maple Leafs have long been linked to the Canadian defenseman, who represented his nation at this year's 4 Nations Face-Off. His combination of skill, size, and physicality was exactly what Brad Treliving has been looking for, but it would have cost a pretty penny.

Parayko was on track to smash his previous career-highs as he tied his season-best total of 35 points, a feat which he's done 4 times. He had recorded 15 goals, was a plus-minus 8, and had averaged 23:21 TOI to go along with 90 hits and 140 blocked shots.

With the soon-to-be 32-year-old now off the market as he looks to get healthy for the 2025-26 season, the Maple Leafs will have to look elsewhere for a comparable defenseman.

There aren't many with the same intangibles as Parayko currently available but if the Leafs are willing to pay up they could potentially get their hands on Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen or San Jose Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro.

With the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning having improved their rosters considerably over the last few days, it's the Maple Leafs' time to answer the bell but time is of the essence.

They remain in contact with the Blues over forward Brayden Schenn, Carolina Hurricanes' star Mikko Rantanen remains a distinct possibility, and Flyers veteran Scott Laughton can be had today if they're willing to pay a first round pick.

It will be interesting to see how Treliving steers the ship after this disappointing bit of news, especially after his club is coming off the heels of two very middling defensive performances.