For the latest Leafs updates or Follow @mikeinbuffalo on Twitter
The Toronto Maple Leafs may have a few irons in the fire as the February 25th NHL Trade Deadline, but after the acquisition of defenseman Jake Muzzin from Los Angeles last week, it was thought that their moves would be limited to a depth defenseman or a rental forward capable of upgrading their fourth line.
On Thursday, Leafs Asst. GM Laurence Gilman was in attendance at the Buffalo – Carolina game at Key Bank Center, which is the latest of indicators of potential trade talks between the Hurricanes and Toronto.
Carolina has continued to keep a watchful eye on the Leafs, even after the William Nylander impasse was resolved in December. The Canes had three scouts in Toronto on Monday for the game against Anaheim and one observer at Wednesday’s 5-4 win over Ottawa.
The same goes for the Leafs, who according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman had a heavy scouting presence at a Calgary – Carolina game last month before the CHL Top Prospects Game. Toronto scouts were also at a Hurricanes game in Philadelphia last month and The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reports that Gilman also checked out a pair of Charlotte Checkers games (Carolina’s AHL affiliate).
Carolina has a highly sought rental forward in Michael Ferland and an overabundance of right-handed defensemen, played four (Dougie Hamilton, Brett Pesce, Justin Faulk and Trevor van Riemsdyk) against the Sabres.
The Leafs could be interested in Ferland to shore up their left side and provide some much needed snarl and size to their top nine and the 26-year-old would not cause much of a cap crunch with a $1.75 Million cap hit, but the Canes are just three points behind Pittsburgh and Columbus for third in the Metropolitan Division and the second wildcard spot in the East and may choose to keep the big forward unless they get a return to good to refuse.
Toronto targeting one of Carolina’s righties would require the Leafs to clear a significant salary as Hamilton makes $5.75 Million for another two seasons, Faulk makes $4.83 Million next year and Pesce is signed through 2024 at $4.025 Million.
There has been speculation that Dubas may be looking to move out Nikita Zaitsev with his $4.5 Million cap hit and five years remaining, but the Hurricanes would unlikely want the 27-year-old older Russian in any deal with five blueliners on their roster making over $4 Million.
That could mean that the Leafs would have to move Zaitsev to another club to make room and give up a forward such as Andreas Johnsson in a deal to get one of the Canes defensemen.
*******
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-leafs-convo/id1365111800?mt=2&i=1000429424205&fbclid=IwAR3SN_DrpVnQ4X2HunAuR_lTcUxYKI-Zm1t5AmO9runGOASMy77VXBcfN04
*******If you are interested in sponsorship or advertising your business in the Greater Toronto / Southern Ontario area on this column, please send a message for more information by clicking on the “Contact… button at the top of the page.*******