Dubas' trade deadline focus set on fortifying Leafs defence

SPORTSCENTRE Reporter

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TSN Toronto Reporter Mark Masters reports on the Maple Leafs, who practised at the Ford Performance Centre on Friday ahead of Saturday’s game against the Vancouver Canucks. Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas held a media availability at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton ahead of the 2022 NHL Heritage Classic between the Leafs and Buffalo Sabres on Sunday, March 13.

With salary cap space limited, Kyle Dubas will likely only be able to make one significant add to the Leafs roster before the March 21 trade deadline. So, what's the focus? 

"At this time, it will be more on defence," the general manager revealed during a media availability in Hamilton to promote the upcoming Heritage Classic between Toronto and Buffalo. "We still have quite a bit of flexibility to get creative and try to make something happen." 

The wild card is Jake Muzzin, who is sidelined with a concussion sustained on Feb. 21. The defenceman's cap hit is $5.65 million and if he remains on the long-term injured reserve until the playoffs that would give Dubas even more flexibility.

"Unless we get the news we don't want on Muzz, I think we will just have the one move left," Dubas confirmed. "It is not one of these things where we are going to wait and try to have him come back in the playoffs. With a style of a player like him, if he is healthy and good to go, we need to get him up, playing and in-form before the playoffs." 

Muzzin, 33, also sustained a concussion in January and admitted he was tentative when it came to the physical side of the game once he returned. 

"We have to be really careful with him," Dubas stressed. "It is two concussions in a very brief amount of time. We are going to continue to be slow and