Countdown to TradeCentre: Leafs in the Middleton chase?

The NHL's Mar. 21 Trade Deadline is approaching and teams are making decisions on whether to buy, sell and decide which players can make the biggest difference and hold the greatest value. Check out today's trade rumours and speculation from around the NHL beat. And follow TradeCentre on TSN and TSN.ca through Deadline Day for all the updates.

In his first year as NHL regular, San Jose Sharks defenceman Jacob Middleton has become a hot commodity on the trade market.

TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun reports the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins are all believed to be among the suitors for Middleton, who has appeared in a career-high 42 games this season.

Despite a lack of NHL experience, the 26-year-old won't come cheap, with LeBrun reporting the Sharks are looking for a second-round pick and an additional asset for the pending restricted free agent. 

"A number of playoff teams from the East continue to check in with San Jose on Jacob Middleton. The price is right, $725,000 is his cap hit, he’s had a wonderful year, he’s a great story, he was signed to an AHL deal by San Jose and this year he’s played a Top-4 role alongside Erik Karlsson, alongside Brent Burns," LeBrun said Tuesday on Insider Trading. "Here is the asking price from San Jose as I know it: a second-round pick, plus another pick or a prospect in that package, pretty high price similar to the Josh Manson deal.

"The Toronto Maple Leafs are among the Eastern Conference teams that I’m told have checked in on Jacob Middleton. I think the Leafs have some interest, all kinds of reasons why his physicality on the left side would be of use to Toronto. Boston and Tampa also in there, I believe."

Middleton has three goals and nine points while