With the rumors picking up following the end of the season and the NHL Draft less than 2 weeks away, it is time to answer your questions submitted via Twitter and in the comments of my daily Hockeybuzz column.
@MikeInBuffalo Who’s the best chance we get for C Thornton, Kesler, M Richards, B Richards?
— Shane Auger (@ShaneAuger) June 15, 2014A: In a column earlier this week, my conclusion is that Kesler would be the best fit for the Leafs, based on his two-way ability and the familiarity of Leafs GM Dave Nonis and head coach Randy Carlyle going back to their days in Vanoouver, but there continue to be reports that Kesler wants to play in the US.
My suspicion is that Thornton will not waive his no-movement clause to come to Toronto. Both Richards have been rumored to be potential compliance buyout victims, but Kings GM Dean Lombardi’s comments seem to indicate that LA won’t take that route, so by process of elimination Brad Richards might be have the best chance of being a Leaf.
@MikeInBuffalo what is the market for Reimer? With Van only having Lack, could he end up there?
— Rami Boraie (@ramsville) June 15, 2014A: It is definitely a buyer’s market for goaltenders this summer, with Martin Brodeur, Ryan Miller, Evgeni Nabokov and Jonas Hiller available as unrestricted free agents. The 26-year-old Reimer is a restricted free agent and can be qualified and re-signed for around $2 Million on a short-term deal, which may be more preferable than signing a 30+ year-old netminder to a long-term deal.
Miller is the more likely target for Vancouver, as new GM Jim Benning was part of the scouting staff in Buffalo when he was drafted in 1999. Calgary and Winnipeg are more likely destinations for the Morweena, MB native and Toronto will probably get a second or third round pick in exchange, unless he is part of a larger deal.
@MikeInBuffalo what's the latest on phaneuf and are we going to move up in the draft to finally get that number one center we need #TMLtalk
— Justin Henry (@Justinhenry46) June 15, 2014A: The rumors of a Phaneuf to Edmonton deal make a lot of sense. The Oilers have long had trouble getting free agents to sign there, Phaneuf is an Edmonton native, signed to a seven-year contract extension and GM Craig MacTavish has a number of young offensive assets that he can move to bolster a blueline that has been his club’s Achilles heel since the departure of Chris Pronger nearly a decade ago.
Names such as Sam Gagner or Nail Yakupov have been mentioned, but Gagner is another smallish, offensive center and Yakupov has been an underachiever in his two years in Alberta.
The Leafs are reportedly interested in moving up into the top of the first round and it would add up that any deal with Edmonton would include a swap of Toronto’s eighth pick for the Oilers third overall pick, but it is unknown whether they are targeting centers Sam Bennett, Sam Reinhart or Leon Draisaitl or have their eyes on defenseman Aaron Ekblad.
@MikeInBuffalo if the leafs trade phaneuf, who will replace his minutes? #TMLtalk
— Ryan Johnson (@1967beleaf) June 15, 2014A: The long term solution to replacing Phaneuf’s minutes is Morgan Rielly, but in the short term it might be more by committee with a veteran stop gaps like Dan Boyle or Stephane Robidas providing leadership and experience. Boyle is going to be expensive and is not likely to sign with the Islanders, but may be using Toronto’s interest to attract more lucrative offers when he goes on the open market on July 1.
@MikeInBuffalo if the leafs can't move up in the draft, do they move down and get more draft picks?
— Tim Gulutzan (@timgulutzan) June 15, 2014A: If GM Dave Nonis is not successful in trading up to get one of the top picks, there is a good chance that he could trade down to recoup some of the picks he moved in deals last season. Toronto does not have a second round pick in 2014 and 2015 due to deals for Peter Holland and Jonathan Bernier, so a trade down to the middle of the first round could get an additional second rounder in return.
@MikeInBuffalo been a while Mike. Do you think it makes sense for the Leafs to trade Phaneuf so they can draft Ekblad? Too big a risk, no?
— Justin Marangoni (@JustinMarangoni) June 15, 2014A: A Phaneuf trade(if it happens) is just as much about the discussed “culture change… than it is what Toronto can get in return for a top pairing defenseman in the prime of his career.
In spite of his terrible finish last season, 29-year-old defensemen who can play 20 to 25 minutes effectively are a valuable commodity(especially this offseason) and if Nonis can get fair value for Phaneuf, he will be traded. It is unsure whether Ekblad, who is mature beyond his years and expected to be the top overall pick, is Toronto’s target if they somehow get up into the top three, but if they move Phaneuf and draft a center instead, then someone like Nazem Kadri could be shopped to bring in a defenseman in a trade.
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