Report: Leafs prefer to add center with term

The Toronto Maple Leafs would prefer to add a center with term remaining on their contract, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports.

The Leafs are running Auston Matthews, John Tavares, Max Domi, and David Kampf down the middle. Matthews has missed 15 games this season, leaving Toronto thin for top-six center options when he's been unavailable.

Domi, Kampf, and Pontus Holmberg each lined up as a top-six center in Matthews' most recent absence. The trio have combined to score seven goals this campaign.

Toronto acquired forward Connor Dewar and defensemen Ilya Lyubushkin and Joel Edmundson before last season's trade deadline. All three were on expiring contracts, though the club re-signed Dewar as a restricted free agent.

The Leafs have $1.36 million of cap space, according to PuckPedia.

The trade deadline is March 7 at 3 p.m. ET.