The Maple Leafs are expected to be pursuing a significant change in the makeup of their roster going into the 2014-15 season and according to Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos, there are only a scant few players being deemed untouchable by Team President Brendan Shanahan and GM Dave Nonis.
#Leafs remain aggressive in #NHL trade market. The only 4 players I hear they are not actively shopping are Bernier Kessel Bozak and Rielly
— Nick Kypreos (@RealKyper) June 6, 2014It is not shocking that Rielly, Bernier, Kessel and Bozak are not being shopped. The 20-year-old 2012 fifth pick overall showed remarkable poise in his rookie season and should only improve as he gains experience and physical maturity. Bernier went far to establishing himself as a front line goaltender with an excellent debut season in Toronto and will likely get a long-term contract extension this summer.
Kessel once again was in the top 10 in NHL scoring, tied for his career-high with 37 goals last season and signed an eight year, $64 Million extension with the club last October, while his roommate and close friend Bozak scored 19 goals and 30 assists in spite of missing a quarter of the season with two separate injuries.
The glaring omission appears to be winger James van Riemsdyk, who scored a career-high 30 goals for Toronto and is under contract until the 2017-18 season at a very reasonable $4.25 Million a season. It is unlikely van Riemsdyk will be moved for those reasons, but if the Leafs see an opportunity to acquire a young franchise player such as Colorado restricted free agent center Ryan O’Reilly, it would likely cost the Leafs a player of van Riemsdyk’s value to get him.
There continues to be little news regarding contract talks between Toronto and pending free agent Dave Bolland and rumors in recent days indicate that the Florida Panthers may be targeting the two-time Stanley Cup winner if he remains unsigned after July 1.
Bolland was drafted by current Panthers GM Dale Tallon and his work ethic and tenacity would complement the group of talented young forwards in Florida. With the talk of a potential Dion Phaneuf to Florida deal percolating, one wonders whether Bolland’s negotiating rights would be included in the deal if the Leafs are unable to come to an agreement with the Mimico, ON native.
Toronto may also be open to bringing in veterans over the age of 30 to provide leadership and experience to what is still one of the youngest clubs in the league, something that they have not done during the Brian Burke era and during the first two seasons under Nonis.
A veteran blueliner such as Stephane Robidas or Willie Mitchell might be of interest on a short term deal to be a stay-at-home option to pair with free-wheeling young blueliners like Rielly and Jake Gardiner.
Hockeybuzz’s John Jaeckel indicates in his column on Friday that the Leafs have interest in Hawks winger Patrick Sharp, who led Chicago with a career-high 78 points in 2013-14.
The 32-year-old is under contract for another three seasons at $5.9 Million per year and it is expected that the Hawks may be looking to clear some salary to lock up both Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane this summer, before they become unrestricted free agents at the end of next season.
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