For the latest Leafs updates or Follow @mikeinbuffalo on Twitter A few interesting tidbits from USA Today’s Kevin Allen on Monday’s Hockeybuzzcast that could eventually impact the Toronto Maple Leafs. The chatter regarding Ottawa’s Erik Karlsson continues to percolate and a trade being completed before the Senators open training camp is possible. Last week’s rumor from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman regarding Vancouver having interest in the two-time Norris Trophy winner is plausible, since Canucks ownership has never shown any willingness to go through a full rebuild and the club has a leadership gap and ample cap space available with Henrik and Daniel Sedin retiring. Most of the clubs interested are looking to get the 28-year-old blueliner signed to a contract extension before he becomes an unrestricted free agent next July and Karlsson confirmed last week to Friedman that he would sign an extension with a Canadian-based team. If a deal to Vancouver does occur and they get Karlsson on a new deal, it could make other defensemen on their roster; such as Alex Edler, Michael Del Zotto (both on expiring contracts) and Toronto native Chris Tanev (often linked to the Leafs in trade rumors) available prior to the trade deadline. Another oft-mentioned name over the summer in trade speculation was Carolina’s Justin Faulk. Allen indicated that the Hurricanes did not get any offers to their liking for the 26-year-old veteran and are going to hold onto him to start the season. Faulk had the worst offensive year of his NHL career (31 points in 76 games), which likely means that he was at his lowest value as a trade commodity. With the Canes adding defenseman Calvin deHaan in free agency, swapping Noah Hanifin for Dougie Hamilton over the summer and prospects Jake Bean and Adam Fox waiting in the wings, GM Don Waddell is operating from a position of strength and hoping that Faulk rebounds and increases his trade value prior to the deadline. As a right-handed defenseman with offensive abilities, Faulk might be a good fit for the Leafs as a deadline acquisition. With two years left at $4.833 Million per season, he would bolster the Toronto blueline for a playoff run and be a potential replacement for Jake Gardiner if he leaves via unrestricted free agency next summer. *******
Skating consultant Barb Underhill going through some drills with new #Leafs Par Lindholm and Igor Ozhiganov. pic.twitter.com/3O5lAZMoFL
— Michael Augello (@MikeInBuffalo) August 28, 2018
******** The Maple Leafs revealed some details of their upcoming training camp in Niagara Falls, ON on Friday, September 14 thru Sunday, September 16. Full practices and scrimmages will be held from 9:30am to 1pm at the Gale Centre Arena (where the club held their rookie development camp in 2016 and the opening week of training camp last season) and will be open to the public.
On Saturday evening, Toronto Maple Leafs alumni (including Wendel Clark, Darcy Tucker, Rick Vaive, Nik Antropov, Brad May, Al Iafrate, Pat Boutette, Kevin Maguire, Jack Valiquette and Mike Kostka) will take on a club from Canadian Forces Base Borden and on Sunday afternoon, the team will host a barbeque from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., right outside Gale Centre to close training camp. The Toronto Marlies released their 2018 preseason schedule on Tuesday, The club will play two games against the Rochester Americans (on September 27 at HarborCenter in Buffalo, NY at 7:00 p.m and in Thorold, ON on September 28 at the Frank Doherty Arena at 4:00 p.m) and will close out the preseason against the Syracuse Crunch at Coca-Cola Coliseum (formerly Ricoh Coliseum) at 4:00 p.m. *******
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