Maple Leafs forward emerges as Brad Treliving's top trade asset

The Toronto Maple Leafs need some insurance on their blueline, and they could use an under-the-radar name to get it done.

For the most part, the Maple Leafs' defense has been a huge improvement from last year. Chris Tanev has been fantastic, Jake McCabe has quietly become elite (though he's dealt with several injuries) and Oliver Ekman-Larsson has added some much-needed edge and another veteran presence.

But they're dealing with an injury to the latter, and with questions surrounding the health status of their older defenders, the team needs to add some insurance. It could do so by dangling the defensive-minded David Kampf as trade bait.

David Kampf should be traded for defensive insurance

You'd think trading away a center as your team is already thin down the middle is a death sentence for Brad Treliving, but it has it's benefits if you look past the surface.

Toronto has either Fraser Minten or Connor Dewar able to slide in for Kampf. While those options represent a step down defensively, it's serviceable for Toronto's bottom line (which doesn't play a ton of minutes anyway).

Kampf has three goals and four assists in 39 games with the Maple Leafs this season. He's signed for the next two years at $2.4M, which is a big overpayment for what he's offering.

One potential destination that could use the help is the Minnesota Wild. Kampf would fit perfectly in their bottom six, offer the type of gritty defense they need with Ryan Hartman suspended 10 games and give them a premium position with term.

Toronto should look to acquire defenseman Declan Chisholm in the deal, as the 25-year-old is the perfect offensive depth piece for Toronto's blueline. While Simon Benoit is good, he doesn't offer the offensive potential Chisholm does. Toronto's defensemen aren't scoring, so the Leafs can use all the help they can get.