The Toronto Maple Leafs could be eyeing big moves if the NY Islanders turn sellers at the trade deadline

While having a line of Tavares-Nelson-Nylander would be the best second line in the league, potentially making the Leafs more urgent to acquire a center is an injury scare surrounding Tavares. The former first-overall pick suffered what looks like a wrist injury at practice today and was in noticeable pain, flinging his glove off before leaving the ice, and didn't return.

Nelson does have a 16-team no-trade clause, but it's difficult to imagine the Maple Leafs, the top team in the Atlantic Division, would be on that list.

Aside from his three consecutive 30-goal seasons heading into this year, it doesn't appear there will be many high-end centers available come March, meaning the Islanders can sit back and create a bidding war among potential buyers. If they're willing to eat up to 50% of Nelson's AAV ($3M), that could jack up the price even higher.

"There's so many teams looking to add at that center ice position," said Paul Bissonette on the Spittin Chiclets podcast. "He becomes such a valuable piece and as we get closer to the deadline, I think we're going to see a little bit of overpayment, which obviously isn't a bad thing for the New York Islanders."

While the Leafs have had an embarrassment of riches at the forward position, they've lacked on the back end for some time.

The Islanders don't have any pending UFAs on their blue line, but could the Leafs be a suitor for Scott Mayfield?

At 32 years old, Mayfield is coming off one of the worst seasons of his career. It wasn't revealed until he was shut down for the remainder of the season that he was playing on a fractured ankle after injuring it in the first game of the season. Now, fully healed, Mayfield has looked like his old self.

At 6'5", Mayfield is a physically imposing figure and could be used in a top-4 role for the Leafs who are in need of a right-hand shot along the blue line, currently playing Phillipe Myers on the top pair with Morgan Reilly.