Leafs Presented With Perfect Opportunity to Add a Quality, Right-Shot, UFA Defenseman

The Toronto Maple Leafs have been very consistent in looking for ways to bolster their back-end on a yearly basis. Last summer, they signed Chris Tanev, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Jani Hakanpaa before trading for Brandon Carlo at the trade deadline.

This year could be more of the same as depth at the defensive position is a must-have for all contending teams. While Toronto has Tanev, Carlo, Morgan Rielly, and Jake McCabe patrolling the top-4, they could always use reinforcements, and they might have found one in Nick Perbix.

David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reported that while the Tampa Bay Lightning are looking for ways to improve their forward corps, they will be without Perbix, who is set to hit the open market on July 1st.

With most teams focusing on the bigger names like Aaron Ekblad or Vladislav Gavrikov, the Leafs have an opportunity to sneak in and grab a nice upgrade with Perbix.

The Minnesota native has been a rather underrated piece on the Lightning blueline with 63 points in 230 games across 3 seasons to go along with a plus-27 rating, 246 blocked shots, and 203 hits across 15:45 ATOI. He played a career-high 17:45 TOI in 2023-24, while adding 24 points and 114 blocked shots.

Adding Perbix into the fray would be an ideal move because it would give them the perfect balance between 3 right and left-handed defenseman, while allowing Oliver Ekman-Larsson to play on his natural side.

Perbix will command more than his previous cap hit of $1.125 million on his next contract, but it would be a worthwhile addition to bolster a position of such importance.

The Leafs might have to act fast when it comes to Perbix because many teams would likely be in on his services -- especially those who miss out on Aaron Ekblad. However, with a few extra dollars to spend this summer, it shouldn't take Brad Treliving too long to get a deal done, should the Maple Leafs carry serious interest in the blueliner.