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The Toronto Maple Leafs enter the most consequential month of their season, not having to do with their play on the ice, but more the arrival of the trade deadline.
February 29th represents another step of the “Shana-plan…, as GM Lou Lamoriello moves out the cadre of rental players for future assets and perhaps a player or two that many do not expect to be moved.
Most of the seven pending UFA’s that Lamoriello is shopping are considered depth players and on their own might only bring back mid-to-late round picks, but the Leafs ability to take back salary in deals will give them an advantage over other sellers in the next four weeks.
This strategy was implemented with some success last season, in spite of the fact that the Leafs did not have anywhere close to potential amount of cap space they will have at the deadline this season.
In the deal that sent Cody Franson and Mike Santorelli to Nashville, the Leafs took back the expiring contract of veteran Olli Jokinen.
The total cap hit of Franson and Santorelli was $4.8 Million, but Jokinen’s $2.5 Million salary made it possible for the Preds to add two depth players for no additional cost, which is why the Leafs got a 1st round pick and prospect Brendan Leipsic in the deal.
Former GM Dave Nonis did the same thing in the Daniel Winnik deal, retaining half of his $1.3 Million salary and taking back Zach Sill’s $550,000 contract from Pittsburgh.
The Penguins were able to acquire Winnik for an increase of $100,000 in cap space, which is why Toronto was able to get a 2016 2nd round and 2015 4th round pick for veteran forward.
Toronto flipped Jokinen at the deadline to St. Louis, taking back the $700,000 expiring contract of Joakim Lindstrom for a 2016 6th round pick and moved Korbinian Holzer to Anaheim, for a 2016 5th round pick and Eric Brewer’s nearly $3 Million cap hit.
The expectation is that the Leafs will be looking for at least a second round pick for defenseman Roman Polak, a second-or-third round pick for forward PA Parenteau and goalie James Reimer and mid-to-low round picks for forwards Michael Grabner, Shawn Matthias, Brad Boyes and Nick Spaling.
If Lamoriello agrees to take picks in 2017 instead of this June’s draft and take back salaries as Shanahan/Nonis did last year, the return for the Leafs rentals could be better than expected.
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The Maple Leafs will reveal their new emblem on Tuesday and according to the Icethetics website, the design is very similar to Leafs crest of the mid-1960’s with a slightly altered font.
Here's what @icethetics believes the new Maple Leafs logo will look like https://t.co/2wrA9yriZz pic.twitter.com/8GJ7i4aoye
— James Mirtle (@mirtle) January 31, 2016*******
The Toronto Marlies put forth an uncharacteristically sloppy performance in a 6-5 overtime loss to the Binghamton Senators at Ricoh Coliseum on Saturday, but have to be pleased with their 11-1-1 record in January and 36-8-3 record going into the AHL All-Star break.
The Marlies led 3-1 in the second period thanks to Josh Leivo’s pair and Mark Arcobello power play marker, but Binghamton scored the next three past Garret Sparks, who made 23 saves and allowed six goals in his worst outing of the season.
Marlies forward and AHL All-Star Josh Leivo scored two goals and two assists in a 6-5 overtime loss to Binghamton on Saturday.
Image courtesy of Christian Bonin at TSGPhoto
Toronto twice tied the game quickly after Binghamton goals in the third, as Zach Hyman notched his 10th goal short-handed and Connor Brown tallied his fourth in the last four games since returning from injury.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe, forwards William Nylander, Leivo and defenseman TJ Brennan will take part in the AHL All-Star festivities that take place in Syracuse on Sunday (skills competition) and Monday (3-on-3 tournament).
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