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The Summer Rumor Mill: CBC confirms Tavares/Leafs Rumor, TSN:Flyers/Emery |
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Good morning Hockey Rumor World! I spent much of the weekend working on the summer UFA Rumor Chart knowing that usually with the start of the second round comes the start of the Summer Rumour Mill, and as if on cue, this weekend came with it a few whoppers from some of the most respected Hockey Insiders in the businss.
First off...Tavares.
A few weeks ago I wrote the rumour that I had heard that the Leafs were talking to Tampa about the #2 pick and that the current asking price being discussed was Schenn, Kaberle and their #1...Leaf fans weren't happy with me at all.
The Following is from and An article late Saturday Night on CBC.ca..
"That John Tavares to the Toronto Maple Leafs story may have legs after all.
Pierre LeBrun of Hockey Night in Canada says the New York Islanders may be leaning toward choosing Swedish defenceman Victor Hedman with the first pick in the NHL amateur draft in Montreal on June 26-27.
If that happened, LeBrun said on Saturday night's Hot Stove segment, the Tampa Bay Lightning, holders of the second pick, might be interested in either trading their choice outright or choosing Tavares and then flipping the London Knights' star.
Enter Toronto general manager Brian Burke, who has already said he's aggressively going after Tavares.
"In the last couple of weeks there have been rumblings coming out of Long Island … and suddenly it's not a sure bet, according to these rumbling, that [GM] Garth Snow will take John Tavares as we've been led to believe all along," LeBrun said.
If that were to happen, he continued, "I'm told the Lightning would immediately go to Toronto's table and say 'Alright, Brian, we're open for business. We want [veteran defenceman Tomas] Kaberle and Luke Schenn."
LeBrun said he ran the idea by someone in Toronto on Friday "and there was laughter at the other end of the phone. But, who knows?"
The Article concludes with....
Burke, whose own club is in a major rebuilding mode, has said that every player on his roster is available, perhaps even Schenn, last year's first-round pick.
"No player is untradeable," he said. "Wayne Gretzky got traded."
I know that Leafs fans love Luke Schenn. and with good reason. check that: with GREAT reason. Luke Schenn is the best player the Leafs have drafted in maybe decades. He is shut down defenseman an a true born leader who reminds me of Adam Foote. And really, who wouldn't want an Adam Foote. But also who wouldn't trade an Adam Foote for a Mario Lemieux?
As Pierre said I have heard similar things from great sources that the Islanders may be fine with Hedman or Tavares. Where I disagree with Pierre is in the scenario that would occur here. Where he says the Leafs may wait for the Isles to take Hedman to approach the Lightning's table, I am telling you to things.
#1- They already have (which LeBrun obviously knows given the names he picked in his scenario)
#2- The Isles know how much that the Leafs want Tavares so even if the Isles didn't want him at all they would surely make some sort of deal with Toronto AFTER the Leafs make a move with the Lightning. Garth Snow will use his position to the maximum potential and trade down. We saw that clearly last summer. I don't see Garth dealing directly with the Leafs because he does want one of those top two picks. But I think there is ZERO chance that Garth takes Hedman and just leaves Tavares on the board. They will get something from Toronto. Maybe not a King's ransome to swap the #1 with #2 if Hedman is the guy they want...but something from either Toronto or Tampa.
Emery to the Flyers?
from Darren Dreger..."Sources tell TSN the Philadelphia Flyers have had significant discussions with Emery’s agent J.P Barry about the potential of the 26-year-old returning to the National Hockey League. ..."
I am a little doubtful here knowing both parties involved, but I have yet to get anyone strongly deny this overnight and Darren Dreger is rock solid with info.
Based on what I have been told, while this Emery scenario is possible I think it is more likely the Flyers are either bringing back Biron and/or Nitty, signing Khabibulin, or trading for Giguere or Halak
I am driving down to Washington today for Game 2 of Pitt/Wash tonight but I will be sure to update from the road...so stay tuned!
welcome back to the Rumor Mill Folks!
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