From the beginning of this whole Jonathan Drouin saga, it seemed like just a matter of time before we heard the Leafs being name-dropped as a potential suitor. After all, they are a buyer in the biggest way when it comes to trying to accumulate young talent, and rumours seem to follow them more than any other team given the major media market in Toronto.

The Drouin talk has quieted down a little over the last couple weeks while he waits at home for a deal, but in the past 24-48 hours or so it’s been ramped up again. As Bob McKenzie from TSN explains, it seems as though teams are getting wind of what’s being proposed by others, and many are circling back to make a push before the deadline. It appears the Leafs are now part of what’s become a long list.

This morning on TSN’s new morning radio spot with Naylor and Landsberg, McKenzie was asked about Drouin’s status right now, and what teams might be in the conversation with Yzerman to acquire him. He pointed out that nearly half the league has expressed interest in some capacity.

“Do I believe the Toronto Maple Leafs are one of 10-15 teams that have expressed interest in Jonathan Drouin and if possible would try to make that trade? Yeah, I think that’s the case”

But as McKenzie goes on to say, the same can be said about teams such as Anaheim or Vancouver, and a host of others. Again, audio available here.

The only reason this raises a few ears this morning is because it’s the first we’ve heard, with any amount of certainty, that the Leafs have been involved. They aren’t the front-runners, or at least they haven’t been reported as such, and given what we’ve been reading over the last little while that title likely still belongs to the Senators.

This is just another storyline to keep an eye on as we get through this week, to go along with about a hundred more we’ve been tracking. And as far as how much sense it makes, well, obviously plenty. Drouin’s a center, young, and is probably in about as much of a “buy low” situation as he can be. Where his ceiling will be has long been a point of debate, and personally I’m not completely sold on him, but it’s surprising we haven’t heard the Leafs pop up in this rumour wheel sooner.





