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The Toronto Maple Leafs may be in line for another outdoor game. According to Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press, the Leafs and Washington Capitals will face each other at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland on March 3, 2018.
The NHL has announced two outdoor games; the Heritage Classic between Ottawa and Montreal at Lansdowne Park on December 17 and the Winter Classic at Citi Field in Queens between the New York Rangers and Buffalo Sabres on New Year’s Day, but have not confirmed this report.
The game will be a rematch of the first round playoff series (won by the Capitals four games to two) and a pair of clubs that are undefeated in outdoor games.
Toronto won the 2014 Winter Classic and 2017 Centennial Classic against the Detroit Red Wings, while the Capitals were victorious in the 2011 and 2015 Winter Classics over the Pittsburgh Penguins and Chicago Blackhawks.
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Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman provided some clarity on the Kyle Dubas situation in his “30 Thoughts… column this week.
The report that the Colorado Avalanche had interest in and received permission to talk to the Leafs Assistant GM was revealed after Toronto management had closed the window to talk to him.
There continues to be a cloud over what the Leafs general manager scenario will be after Lou Lamoriello’s contract expires in June 2018. The 74-year-old does not seem ready to retire and the perception is that Dubas is behind Mark Hunter on the management depth chart, but Friedman points out that Dubas is well liked by Team President Brendan Shanahan and that there are rumors that Dubas has signed an extension to stay with the Leafs.
On the trade rumor front, Toronto and Anaheim continue to be joined at the hip regarding a possible forward-for-defenseman swap in advance of the Expansion Draft and while most chatter has potential deals involving James van Riemsdyk and Josh Manson, Friedman indicates that a target for the Ducks could be Leafs winger Connor Brown.
The 23-year-old winger scored 20 goals and 16 assists in his rookie season and was a favorite of Leafs coach Mike Babcock for his effective play in both offensive and defensive zones, but former Toronto GM Dave Nonis works in the Ducks organization and drafted Brown in 2012.
Another factor could be Brown needing a new contract. It is most likely that the Toronto native will be in line for a two-or-three year bridge deal, but the Leafs are deep at right wing with William Nylander, Mitch Marner and Kasperi Kapanen and Nikita Soshnikov, as well as 2015 pick Jeremy Bracco.
Although dealing Brown from an area of strength to address an area of weakness such as defense makes sense, the fact that Babcock likes Brown a lot mitigates the chances of him being moved. If the Leafs are going to move someone to upgrade their blueline, the more likely player to get moved is van Riemsdyk with a year left on his contract or Kapanen, who has not proven his worth at the NHL level but has the potential to be a top-nine forward.
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Former Leaf Phil Kessel offered an interesting quote at Stanley Cup Final media day in Pittsburgh on Sunday when asked about Preds defenseman PK Subban’s ordeal this season getting traded from the Canadiens to Nashville last summer.
"I know what he's going through. Obviously he wants to win really bad,… Kessel said. “because I'd say he got the shaft in Montreal."
Kessel is looking to win a second Stanley Cup following the trade from Toronto to Pittsburgh in July 2015 for Kasperi Kapanen, Scott Harrington, and two draft picks, but appears to be embracing the misconception that the Leafs reasons for moving him were not valid.
While Kessel has been an integral part of Pittsburgh’s post-season success, it has been as a complementary player and not a core component, as he was acquired and re-signed in Toronto to be. The winger’s inability to live up to those expectations is the reason why he was moved.
P.A. Parenteau, from last place with the #Leafs last season to the #StanleyCupFinal with Nashville. pic.twitter.com/UrcPh1hrGE
— Michael Augello (@MikeInBuffalo) May 28, 2017
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