Maple Leafs inquire on Larsson; Oilers were willing to give up 1st for Coleman

A few news nuggets from around the NHL today suggest the @Toronto Maple Leafs have inquired about @Edmonton Oilers defenceman @Adam Larsson and that the Oilers were willing to part with a 1st round pick for @Blake Coleman.

Chris Johnston reported the Leafs news adding Larsson is among other top-four right-shot defencemen the Leafs have looked into.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, meanwhile, wrote in 31 thoughts that “a couple of teams said they heard he was the guy the Oilers would give up a first-rounder for.”

The Oilers and Maple Leafs have been quietly linked in trade discussions for some time and Adam Larsson’s name has been mentioned before. Toronto is in need of defencemen, and the Oilers are in need of top-nine scoring options — something the Maple Leafs have an abundance of.

Guys like @Kaspari Kapanen and @Andreas Johnsson have been mentioned, but Johnsson is now out eight weeks and may alter the Leafs’ plans.

The Oilers pursuit of Coleman, meanwhile, is interesting. The Lightning gave up a lot for him in a 1st round pick and a very good prospect in @Nolan Foote.

I wonder how far the Oilers got into discussions with the Devils on the trade. Would the Oilers maybe have offered up a prospect like @Ryan McLeod or @Raphael Lavoie? Those are two of the most similar prospects, and to be honest, I would be hesitant to move either of them PLUS a first-round pick for Coleman.

Nonetheless, it’s interesting to see the Oilers being willing to dangle their first for a player who has one-year after this left on his contract in Coleman.

There’s less than a week away from the NHL’s Monday trade deadline, so it’ll be interesting to see what happens.

On Twitter: @zjlaing