Update - 10pm
Toronto Star columnist Damien Cox updates via Twitter that the Leafs are unlikely to trade center Dave Bolland before 3pm Wednesday, but that he is unlikely to play in New York tomorrow night. TSN's Mark Masters reports that winger Carter Ashton, who scored a hat trick for the Marlies on Sunday may be recalled if Bolland cannot suit up against the Rangers.
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Update - 6pm
Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos reports that Leafs GM Dave Nonis is making calls on center Dave Bolland, who remains unsigned beyond this season. The pending unrestricted free agent is still asking for over $5 Million per season on a long term contract extension, a price that Toronto feels is exorbitant.
Earlier in the day, CBC's Elliotte Friedman in his weekly "30 Thoughts" column says that Bolland's reported eight-year, $40-million demand was likely the first salvo in negotiations and as with someone like Ryan Callahan of the Rangers, the price may come down to a more reasonable level if Bolland wants to stay and Toronto wants him to return. The rumors of making calls to pursue potential deals could be a ploy to get the 27-year-old center to sign a more economical deal.
Friedman thinks the Leafs may wait to see how Bolland recovers from his ankle injury down the stretch and in the playoffs before they decide to negotiate in earnest.
Stay tuned.....
Update - 12:00
Per Sportsnet's David Alter, the Leafs have placed center Trevor Smith on waivers. Smith missed 24 games after suffering a broken hand in mid-December. The Leafs are likely waiving the 29-year-old Marlies team captain on the day before the trade deadline to try to improve the odds of getting Smith through waivers and down to the AHL.
Smith is on a one-way deal making and waiving him down opens up another $550,000 in salary cap room before the trade deadline on Wednesday.
Sportsnet's Daren Millard reports on Hockey Central that the Leafs may move winger Nikolai Kulemin to the Florida Panthers. This type of move would most likely be made to open up $2.9 Million is room for another deal.
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The Toronto Maple Leafs put forth another inconsistent effort in a 2-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets at Air Canada Center on Monday, which is not only their third straight post-Olympic defeat and ended a seven game home winning streak, but could prod Leafs GM Dave Nonis to consider addressing some roster concerns before the trade deadline passes at 3pm Wednesday.
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The Blue Jackets swept the season series with the victory and move to within five points of Toronto with two games in hand in the battle for an Eastern Conference playoff spot, as they took advantage of the Leafs propensity for defensive errors and inconsistent effort.
Dalton Prout and Artem Anisimov scored midway through the second period, a period in which the Leafs were dominated and outshot 12-5, prompting boos from the unhappy patrons at the ACC.
“(Columbus) took over the game in the second period, they played really well and we didn’t find an answer soon enough.… winger Joffrey Lupul said following the game.“ James Reimer, who saw action for the first time since being pulled in Winnipeg on January 25th, made 31 saves on the night and put forth a solid effort after a lengthy layoff.
“Reims played well, he gave us a chance to win for sure, but we hung him out to dry for about 10 minutes there in the second period.… Lupul said.
As with the overtime losses to New York and Montreal, the Leafs trailed going into the third period and attempted to steal a point or two in the standings with a late rally, but Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky stood tall making 11 stops in the final 20 minutes, allowing only Mason Raymond’s long blast by him.
The Leafs pressed for the tying goal, but Nazem Kadri and Tyler Bozak were unable to capitalize on scoring chances in the final minutes of regulation.
The concern for Toronto is that in spite of having numerous opportunities to score, the top line of Bozak, Phil Kessel and James van Riemsdyk were unable to convert and that has lethal consequences for a club that has relied heavily on their ability to score. Raymond’s 17th goal of the season is only the second tally to come from the Leafs other three lines in the three losses.
The question now before Leafs GM Dave Nonis is whether he will stay relatively quiet before the March 5th deadline or whether the three losses and narrowing of the gap between making and missing the playoffs will force him to make a small tinkering move or larger trade in the next 27 hours.
Toronto is most likely to do something small, probably adding a veteran on the blueline if the price is reasonable, but rumors persist that the Leafs have interest in Vancouver center Ryan Kesler, who is reportedly being shopped. TSN Insiders Bob McKenzie and Darren Dreger have reported that the cost would be a young NHL center(20-25 years old), a top prospect and a 1st round pick.
Dreger confirmed on TSN's Leafs Breakfast on Tuesday morning that there has been contact between Nonis and Vancouver GM Mike Gillis and stated that the cost of acquiring the two-time US Olympian would likely be Kadri, defenseman Jake Gardiner or Morgan Rielly and the Leafs 2014 1st round pick, but that if the Canucks insisted on the Vancouver native Rielly be part of the deal, the Leafs would not go for it.
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For the next day, my goal is to provide you with as many updates as possible before the 3pm Wednesday deadline. Any rumor from substantive sources will be posted in the column with the source and my thoughts on the possibility of it happening.
Check back throughout the day for updates.
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