The Toronto Maple Leafs made a splash on the trade market late last month when they landed defenceman Jake Muzzin in a trade with the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Carl Grundstrom, Sean Durzi and a 2019 first-round pick.
The club got the veteran rearguard they’ve been looking for — for the remainder of this season and all of next year, too — but they might not be done dealing just yet.
“The Maple Leafs have been linked to Micheal Ferland, who Carolina might keep. But they are looking for that kind of player,” Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday on the Headlines segment of Hockey Night in Canada.
But fear not, Leafs fans. According to Friedman, the Maple Leafs don’t plan on selling the future for a win right now.
“They have indicated that, for a rental, they are not interested in dealing either of their top two defence prospects, [Rasmus] Sandin or [Timothy] Liljegren or another first-round pick,” Friedman said. “They’ve already dealt one for Jake Muzzin, who they have for another year.”
Sandin was selected by the Maple Leafs 29th overall in 2018, and has five goals and 10 points in 18 AHL games with the Marlies since. Liljegren is a product of the 2017 draft (17th overall) and is known for his offensive skill set and elite skating. He has also spent the majority of this season with the Marlies, tallying two goals and eight points in 19 games.
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