This past weekend, Toronto Maple Leafs fans witnessed the exceptional skills of Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes, who showcased his prowess in a 3-0 victory. Hughes' performance served as a stark reminder of the high-caliber defencemen the Leafs have been lacking since Börje Salming's era in the 1970s.

Toronto's current blue line, led by Morgan Rielly, has struggled to replicate the impact of franchise defencemen like Hughes and Cale Makar. Over the decades, the Leafs have drafted numerous blueliners but have yet to find a true game-changer. The recent changes in team management and coaching philosophy aim to bolster the defensive aspect of the game, but the offensive contributions from defencemen remain alarmingly low.