"Maple Leafs defenceman Luke Schenn usually plays a quietly effective game, and perhaps that's why there hasn't been a big fuss in Leafs Nation over reports that Schenn may be traded this season.

But if the Leafs do swap their former fifth-overall pick from 2008, even if it's for a big, talented forward, a player like James Van Riemsdyk of the Philadelphia Flyers, they'll still miss Schenn, big time. The Saskatoon native has had an up-and-down season, but when he's on his game, he's a top-line defensive defenceman and is always among the league leaders in hits.

Schenn played a strong game on Saturday night in Toronto's 5-0 victory over the Ottawa Senators. Not flashy, but solid. He scored his second goal of the season, was physical, leading the team with four hits, and was a powerhouse on the penalty kill. Schenn is expendable (apparently) because the Leafs have a plethora of talent on the blue line, including youngsters Jake Gardiner, Cody Franson and Keith Aulie. And team captain Dion Phaneuf is only 26. But Schenn would be a top-four defenceman on many teams in the NHL."