Maple Leafs targeting surprising eastern conferences defender

The Toronto Maple Leafs have had a less than ideal start to the season, although they haven't exactly been bad, being decimated on the back end by long term injuries have forced them into a tough spot. Now of course they're in the market for a defender to fill the gaps, but this name is quite surprising.

According to Dylan H. Robillard, a journalist for Olde City Sports and Brotherly Puck, the Leafs are interested in Philadelphia Flyers defenceman Rasmus Ristolainen; take a look.



Ristolainen, 29, hasn't lived up the expectations people had him when he signed with the Flyers and they are looking to move the contact. In 5 games he's had just one assist.

A change of scenery could be good for the Finnish blueliner, but will he be able to fill the hole the Leafs have on their back end? I'm not so convinced.

The Leafs and Flyers haven't even begun trade talks as of yet, but it seems like the interest is there from the Leafs side of things. Only time will tell if the two sides come together to work on a deal for the big defender.