For the latest Leafs updates or Follow @mikeinbuffalo on Twitter Many NHL teams are being proactive in protecting players that are potentially being traded by sitting them out of games as Monday’s NHL Trade Deadline approaches. These clubs want to protect players from getting injured at the eleventh hour, as what happened to P.A. Parenteau just prior to the 2016 Deadline. The Ottawa Senators scratched Matt Duchene against New Jersey before shipping him to Columbus on Friday and are expected to sit Mark Stone and Ryan Dzingel against the Flames on Sunday if they have not dealt both forwards yet. The New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers are doing the same, sitting Marcus Johansson, Mats Zuccarello, Kevin Hayes and Adam McQuaid for their contest at Madison Square Garden Saturday afternoon. The Toronto Maple Leafs may still be in on McQuaid or other cheaper rentals as Monday’s deadline approaches, but the few options in that market are quickly evaporating. Pending UFA Nick Jensen was dealt from Detroit to Washington on Friday and on Saturday the Devils sent veteran Ben Lovejoy to Dallas in exchange for former Leaf Connor Carrick and a third round pick. Lovejoy apparently will take the spot of injured blueliner Stephen Johns (who Stars GM Jim Nill fears will be out for the season). Dallas is rumored to be looking to add some offensive punch before the deadline and clear the cap space to do so, which could mean that former Leaf Roman Polak may be available. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported on this week’s 31 Thoughts that there were some mixed signals in the Leafs had made inquiries on Polak, who makes $1.3 Million and is an unrestricted free agent this summer, but their familiarity with the 32-year-old and the likely low cost of re-acquiring makes him a backup plan if McQuaid is moved elsewhere or bigger deals for a top-four righty fall through. The thought continues that GM Kyle Dubas would prefer to add a top-four defenseman with term remaining if the cost was right in the next 48 hours, but that would likely cost the Leafs Andreas Johnsson, Kasperi Kapanen or top prospects Timothy Liljegren or Rasmus Sandin. Friedman speculated about the availability of Ducks defenseman Brandon Montour. As well as his recent decrease in ice time, GM Bob Murray may be factoring in a “tagging… issue, that may be preventing Anaheim from announcing the signing of pending UFA Jakob Silfverberg to a long-term extension, because that deal would put the Ducks over the projected cap limit for 2019-20. It is possible that Montour could be moved in part to clear his $3.38 Million cap hit for next season off the books, as well as looking forward to after next season, when the Brantford, ON native is eligible for arbitration and two years away from unrestricted free agency. ******* The Leafs take on the Montreal Canadiens at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday, Toronto has a three point lead on the Habs for third place in the Atlantic and trails second place Boston by four points. Defenseman Jake Gardiner skated briefly at the morning skate on Saturday after missing practice on Friday. Head coach Mike Babcock indicated that he expects Gardiner to start against the Canadiens, but that seven defensemen will take the pre-game skate in case he is unable to go. Babcock tinkered with his forward lines after a sluggish outing in a 3-2 loss to Washington on Thursday. Andreas Johnsson and Patrick Marleau exchanged places, with the rookie lining up with Auston Matthews and Kapanen and the veteran on the left side with Nylander and Connor Brown. Nazem Kadri will miss his second game with concussion issues and the goaltending match will be Carey Price for Montreal and Frederik Andersen for Toronto. *******
Questions pile up for Leafs as the NHL Trade Deadline approaches. A quick Convo to go over a few things. Enjoy. ðŸ™ðŸ»ðŸ’™#TMLTalk #LeafsForever #HockeyTwitter #TheLeafsConvo@MikeInBuffalo @TheLeafsConvo https://t.co/U42i4W4VEc pic.twitter.com/NJrsdN4cqG
— Norman James (@NormanJamesTLC) February 22, 2019