Rumor: Brad Treliving Interested in Blues Defenseman

It has been suggested that Treliving may be interested in Robert Bortuzzo, a 6'4", right-shot defenseman who has yet to play a game for the Blues this season despite being on the roster. Notably, the Leafs currently only have two defenseman who shoot right. Jake McCabe and TJ Brodie both can play the right side but shoot left.

Bortuzzo is on a one-year contract with a 950k cap hit. In order to make a trade work, salary would likely have to go the other way. Perhaps the easiest player to move would be Mark Giordano, who does not have any trade protection and comes with a manageable cap hit. Swapping the veterans would make sense from the Leafs perspective as it would give them three right-handed defenseman while making the team a little bit younger. At this point in their careers, Giordano may be the better player but this would essentially be a move to swap number 6 defensemen.