The Toronto Maple Leafs have made a trade! They have acquired Joel Edmundson from the Washington Capitals in exchange for a 2024 third-round pick (NYI) and a 2025 fifth-round pick (CHI).
Edmundson is a 6-foot-5, 221-pound left-handed defenceman who can play the right side fairly well. The 30-year-old blue liner will presumably take over as Morgan Rielly’s partner since they were defence partners during their time with the Moose Jaw Warriors in the Western Hockey League (WHL). Edmundson will fit the role that the Maple Leafs need on the back end alongside Rielly; he is a tough, hard-to-play-against defender who will stand up for his teammates and protect the crease. That is what playoff hockey is all about, and now the Maple Leafs will have another rugged defenceman on top of Simon Benoit, Jake McCabe, and the aforementioned Lyubushkin.
Nick Jensen may be a sleeper pick for the Maple Leafs to target, but the fit is there. He is a right-handed shot that can play alongside any of the left-handed shots that the team has. He could be a replacement for what Justin Holl brought to the Maple Leafs lineup last season. He typically blocks more shots than he throws hits, which is an interesting asset. However, when the playoffs come around, you need to put your body on the line, and Jensen will do that. Some may describe him as a Chris Tanev-lite, someone who has no regard for their own body and just cares about the crest on his chest.
Jensen could be moving up the trade target list for Brad Treliving and the Maple Leafs.
