According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Toronto Maple Leafs appear to be on the outside of any shot at landing Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun.

With each day that passes between now and the NHL trade deadline, takes continue to intensify with some talked about targets.

In Sportsnet hockey insider Elliotte Friedman’s latest edition of his 32 Thoughts blog, he indicated that Toronto appears to be out on the talks to acquire Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jacob Chychrun.

"So if not the (Los Angeles) Kings, then who? Boston’s considered the idea, but I don’t know how likely that is. Other clubs that make sense, but appear to be out, include Edmonton, Florida and Toronto."

Friedman was referencing rumors that a deal between the Kings and Coyotes involving Chychrun was close. This began quickly after the Coyotes announced that the defenseman was going to be a healthy scratch for "trade-related reason".

Chychrun has seven goals and 21 assists in 36 games this season. The 24-year-old is signed through the 2024-25 season with an annual salary cap hit of $4.6 million.

Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs have shown interest in Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov.

"He’s gotten interest from Boston, Edmonton and Toronto to some degree," Friedman added.

Unlike Chychrun, Gavirkov is a pure rental in the sense that he's an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.

The 27-year-old Gavrikov has three goals and seven assists in 52 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets this season. 

Later in his column, Friedman reinforces the notion that despite checking in on defensemen, Toronto's main objective is looking for a forward.