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Babcock continuing his scouting sojourn???

May 17, 2017, 2:25 PM ET [232 Comments]
Mike Augello
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The Toronto Maple Leafs are likely putting the finishing touches on their evaluations and off-season tactics for the Expansion Draft, NHL Draft and free agent season occurring over the next two months.

The club got a jump-start on the signing season Tuesday, inking Swedish free agent blueliners Calle Rosén and Andreas Borgman to two-year entry-level contracts.

Rosén, 23, (currently a member of Team Sweden at the World Championships) had six goals, 13 assists last season with Vaxjo HC of the Swedish Hockey League.

“I think (Rosen) is probably the best skater I’ve played with, even (including) the guys in the NHL.“ former NHLer Ville Leino said to TSN 1050’s Leafs Lunch on Tuesday. “He can pass the puck real well, he can shoot hard. He definitely has everything you need to be an NHL player.”

The 21-year-old Borgman was named Rookie of the Year after scoring 15 points (5 goals, 10 assists) and an impressive playoff performance with SHL Champs HV71 last season.

“The book I got on (Borgman) from talking to some other NHL teams that were interested is that his agent in Sweden was maybe selling him as a guy who is going to be a top-four or ready to be a top-four defenseman in the National Hockey League,” TSN’s Bob McKenzie said on Overdrive on Monday. “but some of the other teams thought that he was more maybe a third-pairing guy.”



Leafs head coach Mike Babcock travelled to France for the preliminary round of the World Championships to check out some potential free agent options, but returned to North America and was spotted at Game 3 of the Western Conference Final between the Anaheim Ducks and Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on Tuesday.

Babcock’s presence in Nashville may simply be to enjoy a few days in the Country music capital and the game as a fan, but it is also might be a sign that him getting a first hand look at a pair of potential trading partners for the Leafs prior to the expansion draft.

As was mentioned in a column earlier this week, the Ducks have an excess of blueliners and due to the expansion draft protection limitations of seven forwards, three defensemen and one goaltender or eight skaters and one goaltender, they could lose one of Hampus Lindholm, Sami Vatanen and Cam Fowler.

Even if they buyout the final year of veteran Kevin Bieksa’s contract (because his no-movement clause would force them to protect him) to protect their top three, it would still leave 25-year-old Josh Manson exposed, which might force GM Bob Murray to move him for an exempt asset, a draft choice or a veteran like James van Riemsdyk.

Nashville has a similar dilemma with protecting defensemen, as they have four excellent blueliners in PK Subban, Roman Josi, Mattias Ekholm and Ryan Ellis.

If the Preds protect all four defensemen, they will likely leave forwards Craig Smith, Colin Wilson and Calle Jarnkrok exposed to the Vegas Golden Knights on June 21. If GM David Poile chooses to deal either Ekholm or Ellis for scoring help, Nashville could then protect seven forwards.

Ellis is underpaid at $2.5 Million and could be in line for a big pay raise when he becomes an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2018-19 season. The 26-year-old has a long association with Leafs assistant coach DJ Smith, who was part of the Windsor Spitfires staff during his four OHL seasons with the Spitfires.

Van Riemsdyk might be an intriguing option for the Preds, who have long needed to add offensive punch.

Poile is part of the management team with USA Hockey, who has selected the big winger for the Olympics and the World Cup of Hockey and head coach Peter Laviolette coached van Riemsdyk three seasons in Philadelphia.

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