Unlike the reported lack of contract talks with would-be free agents Dave Bolland and Mason Raymond, ESPN’s Craig Custance reports that the lines of communication are open and active between the Maple Leafs and free agent Leo Komarov.
The 27-year-old is looking to make more than the $1.2 Million salary he was signed for in 2012, which he only made a portion of because of the NHL Lockout and playing significant time in the American Hockey League.
Leafs GM Dave Nonis in a conversation with Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston last week mentioned that Komarov was unlikely to return unless his salary demands were more reasonable. Reports are that the feisty Finn is looking to make closer to $2 Million with the Leafs or another NHL club, which is on par with what he earned with Dynamo Moscow last season.
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In the lead up to what is expected to be a very busy month of trades and signings, Lyle “Spector’s Hockey… Richardson put together a list of the top 10 most likely players to be moved in the coming weeks and Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf is #4 on the list, behind only Ottawa team captain Jason Spezza, Vancouver’s Ryan Kesler and Columbus forward RJ Umberger.
The three players listed ahead of Phaneuf have asked their teams to be moved before next season.
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The Maple Leafs announced the signing of restricted free agent Brandon Kozun to a one-year contract.
The 24-year-old forward was acquired by Toronto last January in exchange for Andrew Crezcenzi and helped an offensively challenged Toronto Marlies club down the stretch, with 17 points in 32 games.
The diminutive Kozun agreed to a two-way deal that would pay him $550,000 if he made the Leafs, but he is likely to be a mainstay with the Marlies, who could potentially see a significant changeover in their roster from the club that made the Calder Cup Western Conference Final, with veterans Jerred Smithson and Trevor Smith unrestricted free agents and young players like Jerry D’Amigo, Peter Holland, Spencer Abbott, Sam Carrick and Carter Ashton challenging for jobs with the big club.
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The Maple Leafs released their preseason schedule on Friday, which consists of eight games beginning with a match against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Budweiser Gardens in London, ON on September 22nd.
London will be the epicenter of Leafs activity in September, as the club will hold their annual rookie tournament against rookies from the Penguins, BlackHawks and Senators from September 13 to 16.
Toronto will face division rivals Ottawa, Detroit and Buffalo in home and home matches and debut at Air Canada Center against the Flyers on September 23rd.
The regular season schedule is expected to be released on Sunday.
DATE………………………………………………………..GAME SITE…………………TIME MON, SEPT 22………….PHILADELPHIA…….LONDON, ONT……………..7PM TUES, SEPT 23…………PHILADELPHIA…….TORONTO/ACC…………….7:30PM WED, SEPT 24………….OTTAWA………………TORONTO/ACC…………….7:30PM(SS) WED, SEPT 24………….OTTAWA………………KANATA,ON/CTC………… 7:30PM(SS) FRI, SEPT 26………….BUFFALO……………..BUFFALO/FNC……………..7PM SUN, SEPT 28………… BUFFALO……………..TORONTO/ACC……………7PM MON, SEPT 29………….DETROIT………………DETROIT/JLA………………7:30PM FRI, OCT 3……………..DETROIT………………TORONTO/ACC…………..7:30PM
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