Another tough injury blow Thursday night for the Toronto Maple Leafs, as their other starting goalie, Joseph Woll, went down to injury. But they held on for their third straight win, a 5-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes, as Dennis Hildeby came in to hold down the fort in the third period. 

Meanwhile, the Leafs continue their search for top-six help, and the latest reports have them as one of two teams labeled with ‘strong interest’ in Calgary Flames veteran forward Blake Coleman.

According to James Murphy in rg.org, the Leafs are one of them. And the interest is undeniable: GM Brad Treliving is a fan of Coleman, having brought him in to Calgary, and the player’s pedigree as a two-time Stanley Cup champion is something the Buds could desperately use, as a league source told Murphy:

Brad is a big fan of Blake, and he definitely has interest… 

The Leafs want some Cup winners and experience that knows how to win the Cup on their roster right now. Brad knows him well, and you put him with some of that high-end offensive talent, and Coleman can still contribute there, too.

With 16 goals during their three-game win streak, the previously moribund Leafs offense has come alive, and vaulted them up to third in the NHL in goals per game. But there are still some issues to be addressed, and the gritty, hard-working Coleman could certainly be the answer. 

Whether the Flames would strike a deal with their former GM is another matter.

Dallas Stars emerging as a team to watch on Blake Coleman

There are many other teams that have been linked to the 10-year veteran as well, including the Minnesota Wild, Utah Mammoth, and Carolina Hurricanes.

But another name is emerging as a team to watch: The Dallas Stars. They just lost their own key two-way forward, and a veteran leader, in Tyler Seguin. Coleman would be a perfect fit for them as well. And he is from nearby Plano, Texas. He actually played for the Dallas Stars 18U AAA program in 2008–09 at the age of 17. 

As the Flames determine their next moves, another big reason for all the interest in Coleman is the fact that he’s expected to come at a cheaper price tag than their top two trade candidates, Nazem Kadri and Rasmus Andersson. 

Photo: © Sergei Belski-Imagn Images