As the league gets underway after three days off for the Christmas and Boxing Day holidays, the hockey insiders have hit the ground running with news of the impending contract extension of defenseman Dion Phaneuf.
TSN's Darren Dreger and CBC's Elliotte Friedman both reported that the 28-year-old blueliner's representative and the Leafs are putting the finishing touches on a seven year deal and an announcement should be expected before the Winter Classic in Ann Arbor, MI on New Year's Day.
"I'd be more surprised if a week from now we're still talking about." Dreger said on Toronto's TSN 1050 Friday morning.
Dreger also reiterated his long held belief that the Leafs will end up trading defenseman Jake Gardiner before the March 5th trade deadline based mostly on his ability to get a significant return in a deal and the emergence of 19-year-old rookie Morgan Rielly.
Larry Brooks of the New York Post reported on Thursday that Rangers GM Glen Sather is pondering offers for 23-year-old Stouffville, ON native Michael Del Zotto from three teams(Toronto, Ottawa and Colorado) and that the Leafs may be willing to part with Gardiner in exchange.
The Leafs look to end a two-game losing streak as they take on the Buffalo Sabres in an unusual Friday night home game at Air Canada Center. The Sabres have the league’s worst record(10-24-3) and have only three road wins this season, but always play their best against Toronto no matter where the game is played.
Buffalo is 4-2-1 in their last seven games under interim coach Ted Nolan. The Leafs have gone 1-1-1 against the Sabres this season, with their only victory coming at the ACC on November 16.
Ryan Miller, who is a shoo-in to be selected as one of the three goaltenders for Team USA’s squad for the upcoming Sochi Olympics, will be in goal for Buffalo. Miller has a career record of 31-15-1-1, 2.44 GAA, .922 save % and 4 shutouts against the Leafs.
Jonathan Bernier will get his 22nd start for Toronto on Friday, after playing well in relief of James Reimer against Detroit on Saturday and sparkling in a 42 save performance at Madison Square Garden on Monday.
Head coach Randy Carlyle will not make any changes to his defensive lineup, as Paul Ranger will partner with rookie blueliner Morgan Rielly on the Leafs third defensive pairing.
Center Tyler Bozak was on the ice for Friday’s morning skate at Air Canada Center and is expected to be in the lineup on Sunday against the Carolina Hurricanes after coming off the long term injury list. Toronto’s top line of Phil Kessel, James van Riemsdyk and Nazem Kadri continue to struggle offensively, with just nine points in nine games.
Kadri scored the Leafs only goal late in the third period in New York, but was on the ice with the second power play unit after the penalty had expired.
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