Maple Leafs Must Add Nick Jensen for 2024 Stanley Cup Push Amid NHL Trade Rumors

The Toronto Maple Leafs currently sit fourth in the Eastern Conference at 35-17-8 and, thanks to their electric offense, are considered a Stanley Cup contender. To truly emerge from the rest of the pack, however, the team still has upgrades to make on the defensive side of the puck.

The team is 13th in the NHL in terms of goals against per game. The team is allowing 3.15 per outing and while they have the offensive firepower to still win games despite giving up those scores, it will be difficult to continue that clip in the postseason and ultimately get where they want to go.

The team has already addressed its defensive needs once, acquiring Ilya Lyubushkin from the Anaheim Ducks, but could still use more depth, particularly on the right side of the line.

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported on 32 Thoughts: The Podcast (16:16 mark) that, "They were looking at a lot of right-shot D... I heard Nick Jensen was kind of name that they were looking at."

Jensen has had an up-and-down season for the Washington Capitals to this point but he is a good skater who can contribute on offense but is primarily going to benefit any potential suitor as a shutdown specialist.

He has only eight points this season but is seeing the ice for just over 19 minutes a game.

Acquiring him will not be cheap because, although the Capitals have a wealth of defensemen right now, Jensen has been a top-four guy for the team so dealing him would require a reasonable return.

It is a deal the Maple Leafs must make if they hope to make a legitimate run at the Stanley Cup.

The team has won a single playoff series over the last decade, a staggering stat that is simply unacceptable given the money that has been spent and the talent that takes the ice every night. They need an edge, a toughness on defense that makes it more difficult for teams to find paydirt.

The veteran Jensen gives them that and the fact that he has two years remaining on his contract means whatever the team gives up for him, be it a player, draft pick, or both, will not be for a rental piece.

There are other options available to the team at the trade deadline, including Noah Hanifin, Sean Walker, Luke Schenn, and Matt Dumba, but Jensen fits both from a financial standpoint (cap hit: $4,050,000) and the fact that he can benefit offensively if need be and would likely see an opportunity for his production increase on a team with the offensive output of the Leafs.

He is not an explosive, headlines-grabbing name but Jensen has the potential to be a sneaky-good pickup for general manager Brad Treliving and one the team can benefit from as they chase their first NHL title since 1967.