[TheScorpion]

LeBrun notebook:

Going back to the top of this story where I mentioned Colorado was among the teams that checked in on Aho. It’s pretty fair to assume that Colorado’s big trade with Toronto later on Monday evening never happens if the Avs were able to proceed on Aho.

But they get Nazem Kadri instead and he’s going to be a great fit in Denver. He’s got a cap-friendly contract for three more years at a $4.5-million AAV and I think he’s got a chance to reestablish his 30-goal form with the Avs.

The arrival of John Tavares last year knocked Kadri down in the lineup and he never quite adjusted to his new role. He’ll get bigger minutes in Colorado.

Not that he wanted to get traded. Sources confirm Kadri nixed a potential deal to Calgary over the past week, and I believe his camp also sent word to another club on his 10-team no-trade list that had interest in him not to bother calling the Leafs. It was clear Kadri didn’t want to move.

Colorado was not on Kadri’s no-list, which allowed the Leafs to make the deal.

Tyson Barrie scratches the long-festering itch of the Leafs dying for a top-end, right-handed D. With Cody Ceci also on the right side now, suddenly this Leafs D-crops doesn’t look too bad at all, even if UFA Jake Gardiner doesn’t end up sticking around.

Outstanding work by Leafs GM Kyle Dubas between the Colorado and Ottawa trades on Monday.