*This article originally appeared at thehockeywriters.com/mapleleafscentral
If Dave Nonis plans on being active before the trade deadline on April 3, Jay Bouwmeester should be a primary target.
The 29-year-old comes with a hefty cap-hit at $6.68 million, which runs through next season, but he’s exactly what the Toronto Maple Leafs require: a first-pair defenseman capable of playing tough minutes.
Bouwmeester ranks third among NHL defensemen in Corsi QoC (quality of competition) at even strength, behind only Dion Phaneuf and Mike Weber. He averages over 25 minutes of ice-time per game with over three of those minutes coming on the penalty kill. Acquiring a pla...