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The Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to be involved and interested in adding a player at the NHL Trade Deadline in just under two months, but will have to manage a tight squeeze up against the salary cap, even though veteran defenseman Jake Muzzin is on long-term injured reserve.
The Leafs currently have just under $2 million in available cap space, and according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, will explore the available defensive market, but unless Toronto trades off one of their own rentals, GM Kyle Dubas will be limited in how much a potential blueline acquisition makes if he also intends to add a top-nine forward.
Here are six potential defensive trade targets for Toronto before March 3:
Vladislav Gavrikov (Columbus Blue Jackets)
Salary - $2.8 million
Contract Status – signed through 2022-23
Coming off a career-high 33 points last season, the big 27-year-old Russian has only nine points this year, but that will not scare away a number of teams looking for a physical top-four defenseman.
The interest for Gavrikov will be brisk, especially from contending teams with limited cap space, but that could elevate the asking price for him to a conditional first-round pick, which Toronto will likely find too rich for their blood.
Dmitry Kulikov (Anaheim Ducks)
Salary - $2.25 million
Contract Status - signed through 2022-23
The definition of a journeyman, after spending five seasons with Florida and three years in Winnipeg, the 32-year-old blueliner has been with four clubs the last three seasons. The Ducks will be moving most of their rentals before the deadline and might have to retain up to 50% of their salaries to increase their return. Kulikov could be had for a mid-round pick.
Olli Maatta (Detroit Red Wings)
Salary - $2.25 million
Contract Status - signed through 2022-23
The 28-year-old Finn has played in Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Los Angeles, but has seen a resurgence with the Wings, averaging nearly 19 minutes per game and leading Detroit in defensive scoring. GM Steve Yzerman will likely try to exact a high price for Maatta, with two Stanley Cups under his belt, so likely a second-round pick.
Justin Braun (Philadelphia Flyers)
Salary - $1 million
Contract Status - signed through 2022-23
The 35-year-old has extensive playoff experience with San Jose and played in the Eastern Conference Final with the Rangers after being dealt to New York last March, but Braun has no points in 33 games. His low salary and experience are pluses that will draw interest, and the price will be low (probably a mid-round pick), which could be what Dubas is looking for.
Luke Schenn (Vancouver Canucks)
Salary - $850,000
Contract Status - signed through 2022-23
The Leafs former fifth overall pick would seem to be the perfect fit for a potential Toronto playoff run. Low salary, right-handed, Stanley Cup experience, playing a physical brand that the Leafs sorely lack, but for all those reasons, Vancouver will be looking for at least a second-round pick or a defensive prospect and other contending teams (like Tampa Bay) will likely be interested in the big 33-year-old.
Jakob Chychrun (Arizona Coyotes)
Salary - $4.6 million
Contract Status – signed through 2024-25
The trade rumor saga has been never-ending because Arizona GM Bill Armstrong is sticking to his asking price of three-to-four first-round equivalents. The cost certainty for two more seasons and being just 24 makes dealing for Chychrun enticing, but the likely cost would be something like two of Rasmus Sandin, Topi Niemela, Nick Robertson, and a future 1st rounder.
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The Leafs will complete what to this point has been a nightmarish three-game homestand against the Detroit Red Wings at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe indicated that Ilya Samsonov will start in goal against the Wings, which means that Matt Murray will play the second of back-to-back games in Philadelphia on Sunday, and that there will be no lineup changes against Detroit, but there could be some substituting on defense against the Flyers.
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
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