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Leafs telling teams Kapanen, Sandin not available in D-man deal

January 19, 2019, 9:30 PM ET [160 Comments]
Mike Augello
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The Toronto Maple Leafs have less than five weeks until the NHL trade deadline to upgrade their blueline, but it appears that GM Kyle Dubas has parameters of what he is willing to give up in exchange for depth on defense.

According to Hockey Night In Canada Saturday Headlines panelists Elliotte Friedman and Nick Kypreos, the Leafs are pursuing a deal to boost the right side of their blueline, but the steep cost may force them to pursue less expensive options than the Blues Alex Pietrangelo, who may not be available if St. Louis sticks close in the race for a Western Conference playoff spot.

Kypreos said that Toronto does not want to move winger Kasperi Kapanen and 18-year-old defenseman Rasmus Sandin and Friedman indicated that the Leafs have told a couple teams that they would not move Kapanen as part of a trade.

Other names that Toronto may have interest in are Jake Muzzin of the Los Angeles Kings and Radko Gudas of the Philadelphia Flyers.

Friedman stated that the Leafs could opt for the left-handed Muzzin (a four-year alumnus of the Soo Greyhounds) if the options or prices for right-handed blueliners are not to Dubas liking.

The 29-year-old is signed through next season at a $4 Million cap hit and reports out of Los Angeles are that GM Rob Blake is looking for a first round pick and a prospect for the two-time Stanley Cup winner.

Gudas is more of depth option but would provide the Leafs defense corps some of the physicality absent since the departure of Roman Polak.

The 28-year-old Czech has another year left on his contract at $3.35 Million, but with the recent changes in management with Philadelphia and concerns about the Flyers not possessing their usual brand of toughness, there are questions of whether GM Chuck Fletcher would deal the rugged blueliner.

The Leafs 2019 first round pick, minor leaguers Jeremy Bracco, Timothy Liljegren and Calle Rosen are names that could potentially be part of a package.

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