Maple Leafs May Have Brand New High Profile Trade Target After Recent Suggestion

Losing John Tavares to an injury during practice last week has reinforced the notion that the Leafs need to add more depth down the middle if they want to go on a deep playoff run.

Without one of Auston Matthews or Tavares in the lineup, the lack of depth at the center position, particularly on the third line, has been noticeable as they have tried a handful of different players in the role to find something that works. Max Domi, Pontus Holmberg, Connor Dewar and Fraser Minten have all received the opportunity to carry the third line, but aside from a few multi-game streaks, the 3C role has largely been a trial and error situation for Craig Berube all season.

Leafs GM Brad Treliving admitted last week that he is keen on adding a center and it is known that he would prefer a player with term if he is going to part with any significant assets.

Treliving and the Leafs have been linked to a handful of options to solidify the 3C position including Yanni Gourde and Brock Nelson, but Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos believes the Leafs need to take a huge swing this season and named a young center from an Atlantic Division rival, the Buffalo Sabres, as a prime target on 'The Real Kyper and Bourne' show this week.

The 23-year-old, Yukon native is in the second year of a seven-year deal that carries a $7.1M cap hit. While the Leafs should have the cap space to accommodate his contract next season, they would have to move out some salary to make the money work this season. Could that mean moving out the beloved Domi and his remaining 3 years at $3.75M? It's possible.

With less than two months until the trade deadline, and with the Leafs leading the Atlantic Division, acquiring such a dynamic player in Cozens would certainly put the rest of the league on notice and would be a significant change from Treliving's deadline history where he prefers to add depth pieces and make minor moves.