The Toronto Maple Leafs current five-game losing streak has made the chances of being a seller at the trade deadline a virtual certainty. Pending unrestricted free agents such as Roman Polak, James Reimer, PA Parenteau and Shawn Matthias are likely to be moved for futures and their destination will depend on who is willing to give up the highest draft choice(s) or prospect(s).
What is less certain is if GM Lou Lamoriello will be motivated to move those on the Leafs roster with term remaining.
Numerous teams will be looking to fill areas of need before February 29th and Toronto is one of the few teams that can maximize the potential return for deals by taking back contracts that a potential trade partner will need to move to open up cap space and would be willing to make one of their higher-priced salaries more attractive to an interested team.
It is unlikely that Team President Brendan Shanahan, Lamoriello and head coach Mike Babcock want to strip the cupboard bear, but other than defenseman Morgan Rielly and winger James van Riemsdyk, everyone could be moved for the right price.
Here are a few trade scenarios that are plausible for the Maple Leafs and their trading partner and could happen under the right circumstances:
Dion Phaneuf to the Dallas Stars for their 2016 first round pick, forward Ales Hemsky and defenseman Jamie Oleksiak.
Dallas has the best offense in the NHL with 154 goals and a legitimate shot to represent the Western Conference, but has to upgrade their blueline with team defense in the bottom third of the league. GM Jim Nill is likely looking to upgrade a group that includes the talented John Klingberg, Johnny Oduya, Jason Demers and Alex Goligoski without giving up promising prospects like Valeri Nichushkin or Julius Honka.
Phaneuf has been solid in a slightly reduced role under Babcock, but has five more seasons at a cap hit of $7 Million. Toronto will either have to retain salary to get a good return for their team captain or take back a salary like Hemsky, who has just four goals and ten assists in 39 games and makes $4 Million thru 2017.
Jonathan Bernier to the Calgary Flames for goalie Jonas Hiller and the rights to forward Mark Jankowski and a conditional draft pick
Calgary was rumored to be interested in Bernier during his low point while on a conditioning assignment with the Toronto Marlies last month. The Flames have both goalies Jonas Hiller and Karri Ramo as unrestricted free agents this summer and while Ramo has bounced back after a trip to the AHL, goaltending is an area which GM Brad Treliving could be looking to shore up.
Bernier has a year left at $4.15 Million and which likely means that Toronto would have to take back Hiller’s $4.5 Million expiring contract in the deal.
The 6’3”, 175 lb Jankowski was selected 21st overall by the Flames in 2012 and is a senior at Providence College (where Lamoriello has ties going back to his days as coach and athletic director before joining New Jersey in 1987). There have been indications that Jankowski will not sign with Calgary after the college season and will opt for unrestricted free agent this summer, which makes trading his rights getting something for nothing.
Joffrey Lupul to the New Jersey Devils for winger Ryane Clowe
New Jersey is surprisingly in the race for an Eastern Conference wild card spot in spite of being 28th in the NHL in goals. GM Ray Shero could take on some rentals at the deadline with significant room under the salary cap, but the Devils are a budget team and may not want to part with prospects or future draft picks to improve their chances.
A possible answer could be trading Clowe’s contract, with two years left at $4.85 Million. The winger retired last September due to concussion issues and the Devils cannot place him on LTIR since they are over $8 Million under the cap.
Lupul started the season with eight goals in 23 games playing on a checking line before suffering a lower body injury and missing two weeks in early December. Since then, the 32-year-old winger has 1 goal in his last 15 games.
The Devils are likely collecting insurance money to compensate for Clowe’s salary, but that money is not being allocated towards a player who could help them down the stretch. The justification for this deal is similar to the Nathan Horton for David Clarkson swap last February, where the Blue Jackets received a player who still could play for one whose career was done due to injury.
Toronto benefits in moving Lupul with two years left at $5.25 Million and avoiding a potential buyout next summer, while giving them another LTIR candidate.
Daniel Winnik to the Chicago Blackhawks for winger Bryan Bickell and prospect Ryan Hartman
Chicago sent Bickell down to the AHL Rockford IceHogs for the second time on Sunday and has two assists in 23 games this season. Hawks GM Stan Bowman is hindered from making additions for another Cup run by $3.05 Million of the 29-year-old winger’s $4 Million salary still counting against the salary cap. Winnik is a quality veteran forward who could provide Chicago depth on their bottom six with Marcus Kruger likely out until the playoffs with a wrist injury.
The Leafs have the cap flexibility and financial means to take on a contract like Bickell if it would reap them a former first rounder like the fiesty 21-year-old Hartman, with the option of moving Stephane Robidas contract to LTIR.
If Babcock can work similar magic on Bickell as he has with a reclamation project like PA Parenteau, Toronto could turn the big winger into an asset at next year’s trade deadline.
Leo Komarov to the Washington Capitals for their 2016 first round pick
The Capitals are the leading contender to come out of the East with Alex Ovechkin having another great season and the goaltending of Braden Holtby keeping them in every game. GM Brian McLellan’s offseason additions of TJ Oshie and Justin Williams have helped provide scoring depth and he has taken a flyer on two-time Stanley Cup winner Mike Richards.
There is the possibility of Washington moving RFA winger Marcus Johansson to bolster their defensive corps before the deadline and adding a feisty winger like Komarov (having a career offensive year with 16 goals) would fill that spot nicely.
The Caps were rumored to be interested in signing the feisty Estonian (who was teammates with Ovechkin and Niklas Backstrom in the KHL during the lockout) in the summer of 2014 and could be willing to trade their low 2016 first round pick, since Komarov has another two years at a reasonable salary ($2.95 Million)
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The music world has lost another great. In December, Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots, who was a favorite of my college years. Last week, the iconic David Bowie and today Glenn Frey of the Eagles at the age of 67.
Here is one of my favorites with Glenn singing lead vocal :
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