Today a new report from NHL insider Elliotte Friedman has connected the Toronto Maple Leafs to yet another defensive upgrade in a potential deadline deal. After being in <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl-team/toronto-maple-leafs/maple-leafs-linked-to-newly-acquired-anaheim-duck-jacob-trouba-in-potential-deadline-deal-by-reporter' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>potential conversations to pursue Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jacob Trouba last week </a> the Toronto Maple Leafs once again have been poking around for a defensive upgrade. It is no secret that the Toronto Maple Leafs have struggled to find success in their own end of the rink this season under new head coach Craig Berube. Despite several major additions including Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson as well as Jani Hakanpaa the Maple Leafs still lack overall depth on the blue line and Berube has been looking for a physical presence consistently that just has not been there. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/dalter/status/1866696267314675745'> </a></blockquote></div> With the NHL Trade Deadline approaching in the next couple of months this had led to reports coming out that the Maple Leafs would like to add a physically imposing player on defense to truly round out their improvements. A report from insider Elliotte Friedman has disclosed that the Vancouver Canucks could be the perfect trade partner to accomplish this goal. <h3>Maple Leafs and Canucks connected in new trade scenario by Elliotte Friedman</h3> In a new segment of his 32 Thoughts Podcast NHL insider Elliotte Friedman spoke about the Toronto Maple Leafs trade plans. During the segment, Friedman revealed that the Vancouver Canucks are looking for a new home for defenseman Vincent Desharnais after he has struggled to begin the 2024-25 NHL season. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/SpittinPicklets/status/1867437111751872838'> </a></blockquote></div> With the Canucks looking to find a spot to send Desharnais an old connection might be able to turn into a trade between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks. During his 32 Thoughts segment today Friedman divulged that the Maple Leafs were very interested in potentially trading for Desharnais over the summer before going in a different direction. Before Toronto traded Sam Lafferty to Vancouver (a nice pickup), the Maple Leafs called the Oilers. Edmonton's liked him for a while, poking around last season before he was moved by Chicago. It obviously didn't happen, but the Maple Leafs asked about Vincent Desharnais. He fits what they are looking for. With the Maple Leafs already having interest in Desharnais they could call up the Canucks and GM Patrik Allvin and see if a deal could be struck to finally bring the massive 6'6 defenseman to Toronto. This season Desharnais has played in just 17 games for the Canucks and has 2 points but his game is not built around offense but instead size, skating, and physicality. If the Canucks are just looking to offload Desharnais for cheap it could be a deal that the Maple Leafs could make happen while leaving assets saved for a bigger deal elsewhere. As the NHL Trade Deadline approaches and Brad Treliving finalizes his trade plans Desharnais' availability and happiness in Vancouver will be a situation to watch.