2013 Toronto Maple Leafs first round pick Frederik Gauthier is among 23 players named to Team Canada's selection camp roster for the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship.
The 18-year-old Gauthier has six goals and 16 assists in 25 games for the Rimouski Oceanic of the QMJHL and was signed by the Leafs to a three-year entry level deal last week.
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The Maple Leafs recent struggles may have convinced GM Dave Nonis that changes to address areas of concern are needed, as the trade chatter picked up on Sunday after losses to Pittsburgh, Buffalo and Montreal on their most recent three-game road trip.
Toronto finished under .500 and failed to register a road win in November, lowering them to sixth place in the Eastern Conference standings, just four points ahead of ninth place New Jersey. Their offense has become wholly dependent on the James van Riemsdyk-Tyler Bozak-Phil Kessel line, with secondary scoring dramatically declining with injuries to Dave Bolland and Joffrey Lupul. The defense is also struggling, as the top pairing of Dion Phaneuf and Carl Gunnarsson are being asked to play too many minutes in the wake of the defensive struggles of Cody Franson, Paul Ranger, Mark Fraser and Jake Gardiner.
CBC’s Elliotte Friedman reported on Saturday that the Leafs have renewed interest in Florida defenseman Dmitri Kulikov, who is actively being shopped by the rebuilding Panthers. Toronto had made inquiries about the blueliner last season but were unable to pull the trigger on a deal.
Kulikov is in his fifth NHL season as he made the Panthers as an 18 year old after being draft 14th overall in 2009. His offensive production climbed steadily over his first three years, but he regressed in the lockout-shortened 2013 season with just 10 points in 34 games and has fallen off dramatically with just three points in 27 games this season.
There has not been any indication in the rumors involving Kulikov what the cost to acquire him may be, but he is a restricted free agent at the end of this season and did play for Yaroslavl in the KHL during the lockout. It is also a bit suspicious that a team on the rebuild, who has no interest in trading franchise building blocks like Aleksander Barkov, Jonathan Huberdeau, Erik Gudbranson and Jacob Markstrom are willing to move Kulikov, who just turned 23 in October.
TSN’s Darren Dreger furthered speculation regarding the Leafs as a number of teams, including the New York Islanders, Calgary Flames and Carolina Hurricanes have expressed interest in defenseman Jake Gardiner. Toronto is reportedly not shopping the 23-year-old defenseman, but listening to offers if they include a top-six forward.
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Unconfirmed rumors Sunday night mentioned Islanders forward Michael Grabner as a possible fit in exchange for Gardiner, but the Austrian forward does not come close to what the Leafs are looking for in return for the slick-skating blueliner. Grabner has not scored a point in 16 games and has never regained the form that saw him score 34 goals in New York three years ago.
Gleason should be back mid-week. Sounds like a trade could materialize upon his return. He will have to consent to move.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) December 2, 2013Dreger also reports that Carolina defenseman Tim Gleason could be on the move this week, when he returns from a lower body injury. The 30-year-old Gleason has played only seven games for Carolina this season, due to injuries and a fall out of favor with the Hurricanes and has reportedly been on the Leafs radar in a possible deal for veteran defenseman John-Michael Liles.
Liles scored a goal in the Toronto Marlies 3-2 victory over Rochester on Saturday.
“He’s been real good and he’s like an extra coach in our dressing room.… Marlies head coach Steve Spott stated after the game. “I’m hoping he gets back to the NHL, but as a coaching staff, we are going to enjoy him as long as we got him.…
Listen to Leaf Buzz recorded Sunday night with myself and CTV's Norman James:
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