The Maple Leafs have waived for the purpose of buying out the last two years of veteran defenseman Tim Gleason’s contract.
Gleason played well after the trade from Carolina for John-Michael Liles on New Year’s Day, providing shot blocking ability and toughness on the blueline, but is not equal to the value of his $4 Million salary.
Tim Gleason buyout from CapGeek.com
2014-15: $833,333
2015-16: $1,833,333
2016-17: $1,333,333
2017-18: $1,333,333
The buyout option for Gleason was available to the Leafs up until today. It was expected that if Toronto were able or willing to make a deal for team captain Dion Phaneuf, they would likely keep the 31-year-old Gleason, who was their most experienced blueliner. Phaneuf did not get dealt and the salary cap figure for 2014-15 was lower than expected($69 Million), which necessitated the buyout of Gleason.
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TSN's Bob McKenzie is reporting that a trade that would send veteran Montreal defenseman Josh Gorges to Toronto is contingent on Gorges waiving his modified not trade clause to be moved their division rival.
McKenzie indicated that a deal was in place over the weekend at the draft in Philadelphia, but that Gorges nixed the deal
The 29-year-old stay-at-home defenseman is signed for another four years at $3.9 Million, which may be the key reason why the Habs are interested in moving him, with the big money pay day ahead for RFA PK Subban, the recent signing of veteran Andrei Markov, the likely re-signing of Mike Weaver and youngsters Nathan Beaulieu and Jarrod Tinordi ready to step in.
McKenzie did not indicate specifically who Montreal would be getting in return other than saying it was a player currently on Toronto's roster.
It is possible that the player going the other way is RFA Cody Franson, who made $2 Million last season and could be re-signed on a new deal for much less than Gorges cap hit.
Toronto acquired defensive minded Roman Polak in exchange for Carl Gunnarsson on Saturday and if they add Gorges to the fold, they would appear to have solidified their blueline with defensively adept players without giving up youngsters Jake Gardiner or Morgan Rielly.
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According to Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos, restricted free agent James Reimer has requested a trade, but that may not have much of an affect on the situation between him and the Leafs if they cannot get fair value for the 26-year-old goalie.
Reimer will likely receive a qualifying offer from the Leafs before July 1, so that the club can retain his rights, but trading him may be difficult with the slew of unrestricted free agent goalies on the market tomorrow.
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