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Battle Of Ontario Part IV & Backstop Banter

March 30, 2013, 1:46 PM ET [1814 Comments]
Mike Augello
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Maple Leafs recent success has given them a slight cushion in the race for an Eastern Conference playoff spot, but GM Dave Nonis may believe that his club could use some bolstering to guarantee the end of the Blue and White’s eight year playoff drought.
Toronto has earned points in seven consecutive games(4-0-3), has a seven point lead on the eighth place Rangers and ninth place Islanders and could move into a tie for fifth place in the East with a victory over the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place in Kanata, ON.

The Senators have defied logic, continuing to win regularly without stars Jason Spezza, Craig Anderson, Erik Karlsson and Milan Michalek in the lineup. With Ben Bishop and Robin Lehner splitting the duties, Ottawa is 7-1-2 in their 10 games and have only lost twice at home all season.

Clarke MacArthur is day-to-day with an upper body injury and Leo Komarov is still on injured reserve, so no changes are expected with the forward lines, while it will be a gametime decision whether Jake Gardiner will be inserted back into the lineup in place of either John-Michael Liles or Mike Kostka. James Reimer is expected to start in goal for Toronto and Bishop will be between the pipes for Ottawa.

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After tonight’s contest, the Leafs will not be in action until after the NHL Trade Deadline on Wednesday. Whether there will be any changes to the roster when they play against Philadelphia on Thursday will be up to Leafs management, who met earlier this week to strategize about how they will approach April 3rd.

Most of the rumors regarding the Blue and White have been focused on a veteran goaltender; specifically Vancouver’s Roberto Luongo and Calgary’s Miikka Kiprusoff.

TSN’s Darren Dreger reported via Twitter yesterday that the Canucks have reached out to the Maple Leafs earlier this week to inquire whether they still have interest in the 33 year old netminder.




While TSN’s Bob McKenzie reported this morning that Toronto might be interested in adding someone “under the right circumstances”, if it didn’t disrupt the current chemistry of the club.

McKenzie reported that Toronto advisor Cliff Fletcher and Vancouver assistant Laurence Gilman met in Arizona last week to discuss trade possibilities and that Canucks GM Mike Gillis and Nonis have spoken in the last few days.

Trading for Kiprusoff would be more in line with what Toronto is looking to do, since it would likely only take a draft pick to acquire the Flames goaltender, but it is uncertain whether he is willing to accept a trade.

Vancouver is still looking for significant assets in return, like center Tyler Bozak and a prospect or pick.

Toronto has to weigh their options regarding what is the greater need. Is the difference between Reimer and Luongo significant enough to move Bozak, who will likely leave via unrestricted free agency this summer or should they stand pat with what they have and avoid taking on Luongo’s albatross-like contract.

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