After a first half of relative inaction, GM Lou Lamoriello is prepared to be one of the busier executives, as the Toronto Maple Leafs will be one of the bigger sellers in the 32 days leading up to the February 29th trade deadline.
"I think you always have conversations, no matter which side you're on the fence, whether you're looking to acquire players or making sure what is transpiring throughout the league.… Lamoriello said on Fan 590’s Prime Time Sports on Thursday.
Lamoriello has opened dialogues with other NHL teams regarding most of the seven unrestricted free agents on the roster and some players with term remaining on their deals and is expected to implement another stage of the rebuild plan put forth by Team President Brendan Shanahan.
"I think that everything is on schedule." Lamoriello said. "We have to do some things there's no question, but I think the foundation has been laid and its just maintaining it and not getting off track."
The roster changes over the next month will open up opportunities for prospects on the Toronto Marlies and the Leafs GM indicated that 2014 top pick William Nylander (expected to return this weekend) and other players will get a look with the Leafs before the end of the season, but that will not alter the main goal of developing future NHLers.
“There are several players there that in my opinion will play in the National Hockey League, to what level they will have success we'll only find that out when we get there, but we are giving them every bit of a foundation and development process to maximize that and give them the best chance for success.…
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Toronto made one roster move on Thursday, sending forward Josh Leivo back to their AHL affiliate. The 22-year-old winger went without a point in four games with the Leafs and returns to the Marlies, who play in Grand Rapids on Friday and against the Binghamton Senators at Ricoh Coliseum on Saturday afternoon.
******* In my monthly interview with Bill Watters, the former Maple Leafs Assistant GM believes that being at the bottom of the NHL standings is evidence that the rebuilding plan of Brendan Shanahan is working to a tee.
“I think that (the Leafs) are doing a magnificent job of (rebuilding). They are in position to finish in the bottom five, which is what they want.… Watters said. “They are five highly qualified young players that are available (in the 2016 Draft) and I don’t think they’ll have any problem getting a franchise player out of that group.… Listen here:
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