Maple Leafs Reportedly Pushing to Acquire Winger From Division Rival

As Mitch Marner appears set to head West this summer, the Maple Leafs are in hot pursuit of a young winger who currently plays for the Buffalo Sabres to replace some of his offensive production. That player is J.J. Peterka.

The 23-year-old pending RFA is at the top of Daily Faceoff's 'Trade Bait' Board despite the asking price being high.

According to former Buffalo Sabres enforcer Andrew Peters on the 'After the Whistle' podcast, the Leafs and another Eastern Conference team are the two who are being most aggressive in their pursuit of the young forward.

It would be quite a feat for Brad Treliving and the Leafs to acquire the 23-year-old, former second-round pick. Not just because they would be trading within the division, but also because they don't have many future assets to give up after they shipped out Fraser Minten, Nikita Grebenkin and two first-round picks at the trade deadline and most of the players off their roster that would interest the Sabres have some sort of trade protection.

While likely only a dream, adding Peterka would not only give the Leafs a young forward to compliment the eventual arrival of Easton Cowan, but it would provide the Leafs with another playmaking winger to help augment Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies, William Nylander and, potentially, John Tavares.

The 6'0, 190-pound flank tallied 27 goals and 68 points in 77 games for the lowly Sabres last season. Think if what he might be able to accomplish on a better team, playing with more skilled players.