In Monday night's match-up between the Maple Leafs and the Blackhawks, stars like Connor Bedard, Auston Matthews, and Mitch Marner didn't leave their mark on the scoresheet. Nonetheless, others rose to the occasion. Andreas Athanasiou got two points, and eight of the Hawks scored one, marking Toronto's first loss this season.
Both the Maple Leafs and the Blues are grappling with the salary cap's constraints. However, Toronto's predicament seems direr, having to resort to the LTIR to remain compliant.
Brad Treliving, always vocal about strengthening his defense, might be eyeing these players. The Leafs' performance in the recent game underscores their need for reinforcement in the defensive department.