Maple Leafs keen to acquire 6'4, 220-pound power forward

Losers of 5 of their last 6 games, the Maple Leafs are becoming desperate, and it could lead to a major trade as a very nervous Brad Treliving looks to try to preserve his job in Toronto.

The Leafs could not be in a much worse position than they are right now, having played their way to a 15-15-5 record through 35 games, resting at the bottom of the Atlantic Division, behind the Ottawa Senators and Buffalo Sabres. They need to figure things out, and fast.

According to The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta, the Leafs are among no less than 4 teams who are keen to take a run at acquiring star power forward Alex Tuch from the Buffalo Sabres, should new GM Jarmo Kekalainen be unable to lock him up to an extension.

Any trade for Tuch to Toronto likely involves an extension as a part of the deal, because the Leafs don't have assets to deal for a rental, nor are they currently in a position where it would make sense to acquire a rental for a playoff push that may not happen.

The Leafs have a ton of cap space coming available on July 1st, and Tuch's reported $10M-$11M asking price would not be an issue for GM Brad Treliving. The question is, if they miss the playoffs, should the Leafs just wait for Tuch to become a free agent to try to sign him, or is it in their better interest to acquire him with an extension in place to avoid losing him to another team?

Tuch is enjoying another productive season in Buffalo, having notched 11 goals and 29 points in 34 games. The two-time 36-goal scorer can certainly provide the Leafs with what they need in terms of production, responsible two-way play, a big body, a physical presence, and someone to play next to Auston Matthews on the top line that isn't named Max Domi.