Reports that the MLSE board have given a rubber stamp to Team President Brendan Shanahan’s plan to implement a full rebuild have put the Toronto Maple Leafs at the epicenter of trade rumors with just over two weeks to go before the March 2nd NHL Trade Deadline.
While moving pending UFA’s Daniel Winnik, Mike Santorelli, David Booth, Korbinian Holzer and Cody Franson is almost a certainty, the announced rebuild has widened the scope to include possibly trading center Tyler Bozak and others, while core players Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf will likely have to wait until in the summer when interested teams have more flexibility to add players with significant salaries.
ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun reports that Toronto is looking for a second round pick for both Santorelli and Winnik and could get that in return since interest in both versatile forwards is high.
Winnik is on the Winnipeg Jets radar, who according to GM Kevin Chevldayoff have room to add another player after clearing salary in last week’s mega deal with Buffalo. The veteran forward is also drawing interest from the Pittsburgh Penguins. USA Today’s Kevin Allen indicated on this week’s HockeyBuzzcast that Pens GM Jim Rutherford has little room under the cap and would have to make room to fit even an economical salary like Winnik, who makes $1.3 Million.
The list of interested clubs for Santorelli continues to increase, with the Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals joining the New York Rangers, Nashville Predators and Vancouver Canucks in pursuit of the 29-year-old forward. Nonis travelled to Boston to scout the Bruins-Canadiens game last Sunday and TSN’s Darren Dreger reported that Boston scouts were in full force at the Leafs-Isles game at Nassau Coliseum on Thursday.
CSN’s Chuck Gormley reports that the Capitals have roughly $2 Million in cap space are looking Plan B options past deadline prize Antoine Vermette to bolster their weakness up the middle. Santorelli’s $1.5 Million price tag, his ability to play center and Washington being willing to give up picks/prospects instead of tinkering with their roster could make Santorelli a good fit.
RDS indicated on Friday that the Leafs have expressed interest in Montreal Canadiens forwards Michael Bournival and Christian Thomas, but the report did not specify what the Habs were looking to acquire from Toronto.
Both Bournival and Thomas(son of former Leaf Steve Thomas) are 22 years old and have been shuttling back and forth between Montreal and their AHL Hamilton Bulldogs the last two seasons, which would put them more in the category of a prospect/throw-in along with a draft choice in a deal for Winnik or Santorelli or in a one-for-one exchange for a veteran forward like Booth.
The 29-year-old former 30-goal scorer has just one goal in 33 games with the Leafs, but has played with more energy and effort with a larger share of ice time in recent games.
Moving the Leafs de facto #1 center in Bozak was thought to be remote until the plan to rebuild was revealed, but moving the 28-year-old with three years remaining at an economical $4.2 Million is now not out of the realm of possibility.
The former University of Denver product has long been connected to the Colorado Avalanche and might be a fit if the Avs move Ryan O’Reilly, who will be an unrestricted free agent next season.
Bozak has the playmaking skills and faceoff/special teams abilities more conducive to being a second line center and Toronto may opt to extend 24-year-old pending RFA Nazem Kadri to fill his role, since he will be entering his prime when the Leafs plan to be a competitive club again.
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The Maple Leafs match at the Bell Center in Montreal on Saturday has the potential to be a Valentine’s Day massacre based on Toronto’s struggles and the Canadiens sharing the top spot in the Eastern Conference with Tampa Bay.
Toronto will play the Habs three more times this season, including another Saturday night contest on February 28 and the season finale at Air Canada Center on April 11.
Jonathan Bernier will get his second straight start in goal for the Leafs and will be opposed by Carey Price, who has won three straight and did not play in the Habs 4-3 overtime loss to Edmonton.
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