Leafs Kyle Dubas interested in bringing in veteran free agent from St. Louis Blues

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S. Harper
May 18, 2022 (0:09)

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According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, Toronto is looking to add someone in the top six who is rough and tough to play against.

There will be quite a few players available in free agency this season, now the Leafs just need to find the right one.

Friedman made an appearance on SN590 on Tuesday, revealing that the Leafs could be looking at St. Louis Blues winger David Perron.

The Sherbrooke, Quebec native was a Stanley Cup winner with the Blues in 2019 and could add a bit of sandpaper to the Leafs' top six, as he does like to finish his checks, but he also plays a responsible two-way game and has proven scoring ability.

The 33-year-old has recorded at least 20 goals 6 times during his NHL career. The only obvious issue Friedman revealed is that the Maple Leafs have no money on the salary cap right now.

Perron is coming off of a 4-year, $16M deal that paid him $4M per season. The former 1st round pick (26th overall by the Blues in 2007) registered more than a point per game in 2020-21, with 58 points in 56 games and followed that up with a 27-goal, 57-point season in 2021-22.

The Leafs are going to have to make some moves, many speculate it would be one for their top four, which definitely will not be Marner or Matthews, and at this point Tavares is a hard contract to move, so William Nylander looks to be the odd leaf out.

Nylander is a very skilled player but has been criticized for his compete level and unwilling to play on the boards or rough areas.

Either way the Leafs need to make some changes after failing to make it past the first round five years in a row and going 0-10 with a chance to close out a series.