The Maple Leafs approach the trade deadline as one of the hottest clubs in the NHL, but GM Dave Nonis faces a few decisions that will have to be addressed before March 5th. It’s time to answer questions submitted by you in the comments section and on Twitter about who could be moved and for what.
Q: iTOLDu asks - Who do you see being moved at the deadline? Kulemin? Raymond? Maybe both?
A: There have been plenty of rumors regarding the Leafs trading Kulemin, who has recently helped jump start the second line with Nazem Kadri and Joffrey Lupul and played surprising well in his first try at center, but it is unlikely that Toronto would be willing to sign the 27-year-old Russian to a contract amount higher than the $2.8 Million having averaged 7 goals over the last three seasons.
Raymond is fourth on the team in scoring with 16 goals and has been effective in a checking and offensive role. The former Canuck probably could fetch more at the trade deadline from a club looking for some offense, but that would significantly effect Toronto’s scoring depth.
My guess is that Kulemin will be moved if the Leafs can get what they are asking for in return.
Q: bixll asks - Do you think that Nonis will use/move one of his puck moving d-men to get another stay-at-home guy like Gleason?
A: The deal for Tim Gleason was a perfect storm in a sense, as he needed a change of scenery after spending over seven years in Carolina and had the same term and about the same salary as John-Michael Liles. The Leafs need another tough defender and have been looking for a right-handed shot defenseman for awhile, but the odds are against that deal being made before the trade deadline.
With Jake Gardiner and Cody Franson becoming RFA’s at the end of the season and both likely looking for long-term contract extensions, there is a better chance of a defensive swap at the NHL Draft or in early July.
Q: .HOHO. asks - In your opinion what is the number one position the Leafs need to address at the trade deadline? And if you were the Leafs GM what (realistic) trade would you make to fix the problem.
A: In my opinion, the two main areas that the Leafs need to improve to be a more effective club cannot be addressed before the deadline because of the club does not have room under the salary cap to add a top line center or a top-two pairing defenseman.
Toronto will have more flexibility during the off-season, when the cap goes up and there are less restrictions. The only way that Nonis can give himself room to maneuver and add players before the deadline is to trade someone like Dave Bolland or Kulemin, which opens up close to $3 Million.
Q: @coreyleafs asks - Do you think we trade Kulemin and sign Leo Komarov?
A: If the Leafs do decide to trade Kulemin, the reason besides the amount it would cost to re-sign him would be to recoup some draft picks that were used to complete deals for Jonathan Bernier last summer and Peter Holland during the season.
Unlike previous years, when the Leafs system was practically bereft of talent, they do have players that may be ready to step in as a depth forward at the NHL level. Wingers Jerry D’Amigo and Josh Leivo both impressed in short stints with the big club and former Oilers winger Teemu Hartikainen may be an option if the Leafs are willing to offer the 23-year-old Finn a one-way deal to return from the KHL.
The popular Komarov indicated over the weekend that he is likely to return to North America next season after his second stint with Dynamo Moscow and would like to return to Toronto, who lose exclusive negotiating rights on July 1. Depending on how much Komarov wants on a new deal, he could be a more economical option than Kulemin in a defensive/penalty killing role.
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Team USA coach Dan Bylsma is not surprisingly keeping Phil Kessel and James van Riemsdyk together on the same line. The two Leafs forwards took line rushes at the Bolshoy Ice Dome in Sochi on Monday with Sharks center Joe Pavelski.
“In terms of selecting a team and putting players in situations they’re going to be able to have success in, yes, there are chemistry situations where JVR and Phil have played together — played together on the power play, played together five-on-five,” Bylsma said. “That’s something you can’t get in three days of practice and find that in a game.”
The pair have a collective 55 goals in 60 games with Toronto are also slated to be roommates for the duration of the tournament.
“If the HBO cameras were there, they’d be in for a treat.” van Riemsdyk told
Sean Fitz-Gerald of the National Post. “I’ll have to text (Tyler Bozak, Kessel’s roommate in Toronto). “I’m going to be sending him some videos and pictures of Phil, maybe, to make sure he doesn’t miss him too much.”
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