An element from the 2022 edition of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ top four has been stripped and not replaced — yet.

Rugged Ilya Lyubushkin walked away in free agency, and tough, savvy veteran Jake Muzzin has seen his career placed in jeopardy due to an early-season spine injury.

Mind you, to the blue line’s credit, those absences have been filled by committee. Emerging defenders Timothy Liljegren and Rasmus Sandin have expanded their minutes, matured in their roles, and risen to tougher competition.

A Morgan Rielly knee ailment and multiple injuries to top-four mainstay T.J. Brodie gave the newfound depth — Conor Timmins, Jordie Benn, Victor Mete, Mac Hollowell — intermittent windows to flex their worth.

As far as the regular season is concerned, Toronto’s defence has been just fine, thank you.

So, when Leaf Nation learns that GM Kyle Dubas has inquired on Columbus Blue Jackets defender Vladislav Gavrikov, as Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek reported Saturday, a segment of the fan base balks.

Do the Maple Leafs — ranked fifth leaguewide in goals against — even need another D-man?