With the World Cup of Hockey narrowing to two teams this weekend, a few NHL clubs are attempting to take care of any unresolved contract situations as training camps and the exhibition schedule begin in earnest.
Representatives for RFA defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen indicated a few weeks ago that they and the Buffalo Sabres would try to hammer out a new deal after the World Cup, while there has been little sign of progress in negotiations between Calgary and Johnny Gaudreau, Anaheim and Hampus Lindholm and Tampa Bay and Nikita Kucherov
On Saturday, another contract impasse reached critical mass as restricted free agent defensemen Jacob Trouba requested a trade from the Winnipeg Jets.
According to
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the request was made because the 22-year-old right-handed blueliner is playing behind Tyler Myers and Dustin Byfuglien on the right side and would have to shift to the left side to play on the Jets top two pairings.
It is also a possibility that Winnipeg wants to get Trouba on a short-term bridge deal and not sign him to a long-term extension as they did recently with Byfuglien and center Mark Scheifele, but the Michigan native says that money is not the motivation for the trade request.
There is likely to be significant interest on the trade market for a big (6’3” 202 lb) young defenseman with three years of NHL experience and based on their current areas of need, the Toronto Maple Leafs may be one of interested teams.
The Leafs have a legitimate top pairing defensemen in Morgan Rielly, who impressed many playing a significant role for Team North America and may have found another quality blueliner in former KHLer Nikita Zaitsev, but have to be looking to upgrade on defense with veterans Roman Polak and Matt Hunwick on short-term deals and unproven youngsters Connor Carrick, Frank Corrado and Martin Marincin.
Toronto GM Lou Lamoriello has to be turning his focus on upgrading the blueline, as the Leafs have talented young forward prospects in ample supply and are hopeful that Frederik Andersen and Jhonas Enroth will solidify their goaltending.
Winnipeg GM Kevin Cheveldayoff will undoubtedly be looking for a king’s ransom for Trouba, most likely a young defenseman to replace him and picks/prospects in a deal, but Toronto does have the assets to make a trade possible.
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Final confirmation from the Leafs Training Camp Roster Guide that Auston Matthews will wear #34, which means that everyone with a James Reimer jersey can go out and get a new nameplate.
Zaitsev will wear 22, which has been his number in the KHL and for Team Russia, Frederik Andersen goes with 31 (the same number he donned in Anaheim) and Jhonas Enroth switches from 1 to 35.
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Listen to the latest episode of Off The Post, with Russ Cohen, Anthony Mingioni, myself and special guest Brian Metzer, as we discuss the World Cup of Hockey, Phil Kessel’s tweet and Leafs training camp:
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Listen to my interview with former Leafs Assistant GM Bill Watters, as we discuss the World Cup of Hockey and the opening of training camp:
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