Names on press box seating charts and trips to AHL outposts take on increased meaning and pique the speculation of possible trades prior to the March 2nd NHL trade deadline.
That is what is entertaining about this time of year, trying to put the pieces together as if playing a game of
Clue. Does Kevin “Col. Mustard” Cheveldayoff scouting the quiet library-like environs of the Leafs – Devils game in Newark Wednesday carrying a candlestick mean that the Jets GM has interest in Daniel Winnik.
The guesswork involving the Leafs has been hot and heavy the last few weeks, but reached a new level on Friday, as GM Dave Nonis and pro scout Steve Kasper were in attendance in Manchester, NH for the Monarchs - Portland Pirates game.
This quickly started chatter that the trip was directly connected to continued interest in Los Angeles center Mike Richards and his debut for the Kings AHL affiliate, but according to ESPN's Pierre Lebrun, the scouting sojourn had been planned weeks in advance of the two-time Stnaley Cup winner’s demotion.
There are good reasons to think that the Leafs and Kings could be close to consummating a deal of some sort. GM Dean Lombardi and Nonis have made two trades in the recent past; a three-player deal for goalie Jonathan Bernier in June 2013 and a swap of minor leaguers Andrew Crescenzi for Brandon Kozun last January,
Los Angeles is looking to add a defenseman with the status of suspended defenseman Slava Voynov up in the air and Toronto is open to moving pending UFA Cody Franson, team captain Dion Phaneuf, veteran Stephane Robidas or Jake Gardiner for the right price.
Interest in Richards from Toronto does not add up unless the Kings are willing to pick up a significant portion of his $5.75 Million deal for the remaining five years of the deal or if they are willing to take back a contract with term remaining from the Leafs(Joffrey Lupul, David Clarkson or Dion Phaneuf).
That defeats the purpose of LA moving Richards to clear cap space to get youngsters Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson signed to bridge deals and extend franchise center Anze Kopitar after 2016.
Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston indicated that Kings executive Mike Futa was at Air Canada Center for Thursday’s Coyotes-Leafs game, which would make more of a case for potential interest in Franson or Gardiner(as Phaneuf and Robidas are currently out injured).
Toronto is clearly in full-sell mode four weeks out from the trade deadline, but for purposes of trying to get the best return for players they are likely going to move, Team President Brendan Shanahan, Nonis and the Leafs management staff are putting up the façade of not having the “For Sale” sign up at 40 Bay St. just yet.
There is interest in re-signing pending UFA’s Winnik, Franson and Mike Santorelli to long-term deals, but only if they agree to a price well under what they will get as free agents in July.
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The future of Dave Nonis continues to be a main point of conjecture, since the Leafs GM will be heavily involved in any moves that the club makes in the next month.
TSN’s Bob McKenzie speculated in a radio appearance on Friday that Shanahan would like to bring in Kings Asst. GM Rob Blake as the new GM this summer, whom he worked with at the NHL’s Department of Player Safety.
McKenzie does not think that it is likely that the Hall-of-Fame defenseman would be willing to move from Southern California and that current Asst. GM Mark Hunter or an outside candidate are more likely to replace Nonis at the end of the season.
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Wild Card race
1. BOSTON 59, 2. NY RANGERS 58, 3. FLORIDA 52, 4. PHILADELPHIA 49, 5. TORONTO 48.
Leafs odds of making the playoffs (1.8% per sportsclubstats.com)
McEichel Race
8. TORONTO 48, 7. OTTAWA 47, 6. COLUMBUS 45, 5. NEW JERSEY 45, 4. CAROLINA 40, 3. ARIZONA 40, 2. EDMONTON 35, 1. BUFFALO 31
Leafs odds at winning Draft Lottery(6%)
Friday's results: New Jersey and Carolina each gain a point on Toronto in losses to Pittsburgh and St. Louis.
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The Leafs begin a three-game road trip in Philadelphia on Saturday against the suddenly hot Flyers, who have won four of their last five games.
Philadelphia moved ahead of Toronto in the Eastern Conference standings with a 5-2 win over Winnipeg on Thursday and are looking to continue their winning ways against Toronto, who are 3-15-1 since December 19 and eight straight after a 3-1 loss to the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday.
After Jonathan Bernier lost back-to-back starts to New Jersey and Arizona, interim coach Peter Horachek will opt to start James Reimer at Wells Fargo Center, while the Flyers goes with Steve Mason.
Leafs TV's Paul Hendrick reports that team captain Dion Phaneuf will be out at least another week with his upper body(hand) injury suffered prior to the All-Star break.
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