The Toronto Maple Leafs enter the second month of the 2015-16 regular season with the least amount of wins (1) in the NHL and tied for 30th place with the struggling Columbus Blue Jackets, an outcome not totally unexpected for the rebuilding club.
The path does not get any easier for Toronto following weekend back-to-back losses to the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins, as the Blue and White face the high-powered Dallas Stars at Air Canada Center on Monday.
Jonathan Bernier is a little worse for wear after playing both ends of the back-to-back and Leafs head coach Mike Babcock will go with backup James Reimer in goal against the Stars. Bernier had mixed results on the weekend, with little chance on the two Mats Zuccarello goals in a 3-1 loss at Madison Square Garden on Friday, but allowed a weak goals to Chris Kunitz and Patric Hornqvist in a 4-0 shutout loss to the Penguins at ACC on Saturday.
Bernier is 0-6-1, with a 3.02 GAA and sub .900 save percentage, but has not received much offensive support from his teammates, who have scored just seven times in his seven starts. Reimer has a lower GAA(3.24) and save percentage(.876), but has the club’s only win. Rich Clune will not be in the lineup on Monday after the feisty forward took an ill-advised boarding major in the first period on Saturday. Nick Spaling(off of IR) or Brad Boyes will take Clune’s spot.
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The roster shuffle made by the Maple Leafs last week that moved injured winger Nathan Horton’s $5.3 Million salary onto long term injured reserve was done to give the club cap space to take on salary from other teams to add assets in the form of young prospects or draft picks prior to the February 29th trade deadline.
The question now to be determined is which teams will be looking to open up room down the stretch, who will they be looking to jettison and what will they give up to acquire flexibility to make a potential difference making move.
Here are candidates on 9 NHL teams who are either serious Stanley Cup contenders or could need to open up cap space to make the postseason with players they will be looking to clear out:
Chicago – Bryan Bickell ($4 Million till 2016-17) The Blackhawks demoted the 29-year-old winger after placing him on waivers before the start of the season, providing only $950,000 cap relief from his $4 Million salary. Chicago will likely buyout the final year of Bickell’s deal next summer, but might be willing to pay to move out his salary if they can add a player that can help them.
St. Louis - Patrik Berglund ($3.7 Million till 2016-17) Berglund will be out until Christmas after off-season shoulder surgery and rumors have persisted over the last few seasons that the 27-year-old Swede was available on the trade market. The Blues have the forward under contract for next season and need to open up room to re-sign center David Backes.
Dallas - Ales Hemsky ($4 Million till 2016-17) The 32-year-old former Edmonton Oiler was underwhelming in his first season in Texas and has just one goal this season. The Stars are among the highest scoring teams in the NHL but need to add a defenseman to potentially make a serious Cup run.
Detroit - Kyle Quincey ($4.25 Million till 2015-16) A stay-at-home defender who becomes a UFA next summer, Detroit could move Quincey for a draft pick, but his $4.25 Million is a salary that many teams will not be able to accommodate.
Minnesota – Niklas Backstrom ($3.416 Million till 2015-16) The oft-injured 37-year-old goaltender is the Wild’s third string goalie has a no-movement and limited no-trade and has not played with Devan Dubnyk and Darcy Kuemper healthy. Minnesota has less than $600,000 in available cap space and may see an opportunity to get out of the Central Division with Chicago weakened and St. Louis always questionable in the playoffs.
Nashville – Paul Gaustad ($3.25 Million till 2015-16) The Preds gave up a 1st round pick in 2012 to acquire the defensive-minded Gaustad, but may have a better use for room in their budget than the 33-year-old forward.
NY Rangers – Dan Boyle ($4.5 Million till 2015-16) The 40-year-old Stanley Cup winner is a shadow of his former self and the Rangers would probably love to get rid of the last year of his hefty contract, but Boyle will likely not waive his no-move clause to a rebuilding club like Toronto.
Philadelphia – RJ Umberger ($4.6 Million till 2015-16) Swapped back to Philadelphia for Scott Hartnell in 2014, Umberger scored only nine goals for the Flyers last season and is under contract for another season. GM Ron Hextall will likely move UFA defenseman Luke Schenn for a pick, but will have a tough time finding takers for Umberger or Vinny Lecavalier if they do not retain a significant portion of their contracts.
Lecavalier has another two years remaining, while Umberger has just one year left, which would make him a less bitter pill to swallow for a team taking his salary on.
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Listen to myself as a guest on the Blue and White Tonight Podcast as we discuss the Leafs and Marlies:
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