With the NHL Trade Deadline eight days away, the Toronto Maple Leafs are legitimately at the epicenter of rumors and speculation. Will the changes made before March 2nd be limited to players with expiring contracts or will Leafs GM Dave Nonis be able to move any core players like Phil Kessel, Dion Phaneuf or Tyler Bozak.
@MikeInBuffalo given the current state of the team, how many players do you see being 100% gone come deadline time?
— rino bonsignore (@hockeymgrb33) February 22, 2015A – As we all know, there are no guarantees at the trade deadline and if teams are not offering what Leafs management has determined is fair value for their available players, they will hold off until the offseason. There is motivation on the part of contending clubs to add a player now when it will provide a boost to their playoff aspirations, which means the return for a veteran defenseman like Stephane Robidas or an experienced center like Tyler Bozak may be it’s highest in the next week.
The pending UFA’s(Daniel Winnik, David Booth, Korbinian Holzer, Olli Jokinen) are locks to be moved. Winnik will draw the highest return, perhaps a couple draft picks or a pick and prospect. The others are strictly depth players that teams will be willing to give up a mid-to-low draft choice for. The Leafs likely will need to retain a portion of Jokinen’s $2.5 Million salary to get any return for the 36-year-old veteran.
Other than that, no one is 100% guaranteed to move.
@MikeInBuffalo Who do you see as the Leafs core moving forward? Do the Leafs deal both Phaneuf & Kessel or just one?
— Michael Grosso (@RumorBreak) February 22, 2015A – Right now, the Leafs core group are players under the age of 26(James van Riemsdyk, Nazem Kadri, Jake Gardiner, Morgan Rielly, Jonathan Bernier) who would be young enough to be effective players when the team’s rebuild is complete, but the purpose of the rebuild is to position the club to acquire those core players with premium draft picks in the next few years.
If Team President Brendan Shanahan and the Leafs management team are true to their word that they are going down the rebuild road, then both Kessel and Phaneuf should be moved. Both are in their late 20’s and in the prime of their careers, which means they can attract assets in return. If Toronto is going to bottom out for the purposes of getting picks at the top of the draft, Kessel scoring 30+ goals or Phaneuf playing 25+ quality minutes on the blueline does nothing other than preventing the Leafs from being bad enough.
Remember Mats Sundin.
@MikeInBuffalo Do you think that the trading of Franson was to set market for a better return for Phaneuf? Market for capable D more scarce
— Charlie Mills (@chuckmillsmusic) February 22, 2015A – Two completely separate situations. Franson was a pending unrestricted free agent and rent-a-player deals are a different kettle of fish than players like Phaneuf with six years left on their contract. Toronto was smart to move first and lock in Nashville’s 1st round pick in last week’s deal, because it appears that few other teams are willing to move their top pick in a talent laden draft. A Phaneuf deal is likely going to happen in the summer and may result in Toronto taking back a salary to balance out the $42 Million still owed to Phaneuf.
@MikeInBuffalo Do you see the leafs trying to get Mike Babcock for the coaching and GM job?
— RoldGoldGaming (@HutTrader15) February 22, 2015A – The chances of Mike Babcock being the Leafs coach are decidedly less with Toronto entering a rebuild. Babcock reportedly wants to go to a team with the ability to win now. The Stanley Cup and Olympic gold medal winner may decide to wait to re-sign with Detroit to get offers from other clubs, but in the end if the Red Wings are willing to pay close to what teams like Edmonton or the Leafs would, then Babcock is going nowhere.
@MikeInBuffalo Is a trade involving JVR likely?
— saga (@sagajo) February 22, 2015A – James van Riemsdyk has pulled as much of a disappearing act in the last two months as Phil Kessel and Tyler Bozak has, but the former 2nd overall pick is signed for another three years at an economical $4.25 Million and is only 26 years old. Toronto would have to be offered a top young NHL player of significant ability or a top draft pick to even consider moving the winger and that type of deal is rather remote.
@MikeInBuffalo Would either a Leafs 1st pick plus either Kessel or Phaneuf net the 1st overall from either Edmonton or Buffalo?
— Doug Stewart (@ldsooner) February 22, 2015A – Buffalo is not trading the top pick for anything. They are guaranteed either McDavid or Eichel and adding one of those generational talents is the centerpiece of Tim Murray’s rebuilding plan with the Sabres. It’s hard to imagine Edmonton trading down from #2 or #3 if Eichel or Boston College defenseman Noah Hanifin are there. Eichel would give the Oilers strength up the middle with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and ‘14 top pick Leon Draisaitl, while Hanifin would give them a potential top pairing blueliner to go along with Darnell Nurse.
Even if Edmonton were interested in either Kessel and Phaneuf, they both have limited no trade protection and would have the ability to block a deal there.
@MikeInBuffalo Do you think Leafs are trying to get as many first round picks to try to package them and trade for 1st pick overall?
— RK Blundon (@rkbfire) February 22, 2015A – The Leafs are trying to get as many picks and prospects as they can to begin the rebuild. Nothing is impossible, but an NHL team trading the #1 overall pick in this draft is as close as that as you can get.
@MikeInBuffalo Future Leafs : Chris Stewart, Shawn Matthias, Johnny Boychuk? What you think Mike?
— Mario Capano (@Capano_91) February 22, 2015A – Stewart only makes sense if he would sign a one-year deal that would allow the Leafs to trade him at the deadline next season. The Toronto native is likely to be looking for a multi-year deal in free agency and he will not get that from the Leafs. Matthias is 27 years old and is a big center, but with 14 goals so far this year is going to be looking for a sizable increase from his current $1.75 Million salary. Boychuk may get more money this summer than Cody Franson in the free agent market, perhaps as much as $6 Million per season, something that Toronto will not be committing to in the building stages of a rebuild.
"Scouts??" Reggie Dunlop @reporterchris: There will be several scouts at tonight's #NHLJets-#leafs game. pic.twitter.com/LxnDgqkBW4"
— Michael Augello (@MikeInBuffalo) February 21, 2015@MikeInBuffalo Do the leafs offer Gardiner and Bozak for OReilly or is that to much considering he's an ufa next year would col add pick?
— LeafguyCarlo (@SanzoCarlo) February 22, 2015A – Ryan O’Reilly’s contract situation has to be of concern to any team that would trade for him, since he would hit the free agent market in July 2016 at 26 years old and could attract as much as $6.5 Million to $7 Million per season. For the Leafs to even entertain the idea of trading for the Clinton, ON native and paying the price that you indicated, they would have to get permission to discuss a contract extension before making a deal and lock the former Lady Byng Trophy nominee up.
@MikeInBuffalo does frattin get another shot post-deadline or have to wait til15-16 training camp to prove himself? Waivers implications?
— Hockey Rurals (@hockeyrurals) February 22, 2015A – Frattin can be recalled for as many as 10 games or 30 days without having to clear waivers again, but the AHL Marlies are in a race for a playoff spot and it is unlikely that the Leafs will want to deprive them of their top goal scorer the last six weeks of the season. There could be a rotation of waiver exempt players like Josh Leivo, Sam Carrick and Greg McKegg or possibly recalling former NHLers Troy Bodie, Colton Orr and Frazer McLaren to play out the string.
@MikeInBuffalo Any chance Leafs might try to extend Jokinen's contract? He hasn't been half bad back in the middle so far...
— H-P Niskanen (@Hoopi_79) February 22, 2015A – Nada.
@MikeInBuffalo will the leafs trade within the division
— michael matthews (@MMATTHEWS4) February 22, 2015A – In their current state, Toronto will trade with whoever offers them the best deal. If Montreal or Boston put up the most for Winnik, Tyler Bozak or Joffrey Lupul, than facing former players four to five times a year should be the least of the Leafs organizations concerns.
@MikeInBuffalo who are your top 5 (besides Nylander) Marlies to get a long look for next year.
— Ryan Van Casteren (@RyanVanC) February 22, 2015A – Nylander and Connor Brown will get looks at training camp next September, but both are likely to play some or most of next season in the AHL. Josh Leivo, Sam Carrick and Matt Frattin are three forwards that could make the Leafs in a bottom six role. Petter Granberg and Stuart Percy have had brief looks this season and it is probable that one or both of them will be part of their top six next season.
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8. OTTAWA 58(59) 7. NEW JERSEY 57(59) 6. COLUMBUS 55(57) 5. TORONTO 53(60), 4. CAROLINA 49(58), 3. ARIZONA 47(59), 2. EDMONTON 44(61), 1. BUFFALO 38(59)
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Saturday's results: New Jersey and Ottawa keep pace with Toronto with wins. Columbus loses to Montreal and is only two points ahead of the Leafs, but have three games in hand. Arizona and Carolina lose in regulation.
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