The Maple Leafs are one step closer to a fully healthy roster as center Tyler Bozak returns from the injured list in the finale of their five game homestand against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Air Canada Center Monday night.
Bozak suffered a hamstring injury in the last meeting between the two clubs on October 25 and coupled with the ankle injury to Dave Bolland, left Toronto with a patchwork situation at center for the month of November.
The Leafs were 7-4-1 without the 27-year-old in the lineup and it is expected that head coach Randy Carlyle will put Bozak in his normal spot between Phil Kessel and James van Riemsdyk, as they were not able to find anyone to play as effectively between the talented wingers in his absence.
“We all know what he(Bozak) brings to the lineup, he plays in all situations, plays some big minutes for us and is really a well-rounded player, so we welcome him back with open arms.… van Riemsdyk said after the morning skate.
Either Fraser McLaren or Jerred Smithson will sit in favor of Bozak and Toronto will likely stay with the same starting six on defense, which means that Paul Ranger will be a healthy scratch.
James Reimer gets the nod in goal for Toronto after a scintillating 49 save performance in a 2-1 shootout victory over Washington on Saturday, while Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky will be between the pipes for Columbus, who may be without leading scorer James Wisniewski(flu) and will not have forwards Marian Gaborik and Nathan Horton available due to injury.
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According to an article in Forbes Magazine, the Toronto Maple Leafs are the most valuable franchise in the NHL.
The average NHL team now has an enterprise value (equity plus net debt) of $413 million, 46% more than a year ago. The Maple Leafs($1.15 billion), Montreal Canadiens ($775 million), Vancouver Canucks ($700 million) along with two U.S. teams,the New York Rangers ($850 million) and defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks ($625 million) are ranked in the top five.
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According to CBC’s Glenn Healy, the Leafs have begun contract talks with forwards Jay McClement and Dave Bolland. The 30-year-old Kingston, ON native was signed to a two-year, $3 Million deal in July 2012 and has been an integral part of the Leafs with the versatility to effectively play all three forward positions, take faceoffs and kill penalties. The 27-year-old Bolland was acquired in late June from the Chicago Blackhawks for three draft picks and played extremely well in a second line role before suffering an ankle tendon injury against Vancouver on November 2.
Both players appear to fit in well with the coaching philosophy of Randy Carlyle and from a financial standpoint, should not be difficult to get re-signed. Bolland is currently making $3.375 Million per season and only scored 14 points in 35 games for Chicago last year, before rebounding with 10 points in 15 games for the Leafs. It is likely that if the Leafs offer a multi-year deals(three or four years) to both forwards, they can get him locked up for an amount close to their current salary.
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