The Toronto Maple Leafs will be making a number of roster decisions following the final two exhibition games against Detroit on Friday and Saturday, but the possibility of that those decisions would trading for Devils center Travis Zajac have been eliminated.
Rumors last week indicated that Leafs (and former New Jersey) GM Lou Lamoriello had interest in trading for the 30-year-old center, but that was ruled out by agent Kurt Overhardt, who said that Zajac is not leaving the Garden State.
"There is absolutely no truth to media speculation of Travis Zajac being traded."
Overhardt said to TSN’s Darren Dreger .
Zajac is entering the third year of an eight-year, $46 Million contract and his offensive numbers have declined since scoring a career-high 25 goals and 42 assists in 2010, but the Leafs are already burdened by long-term deals to veterans Joffrey Lupul, Tyler Bozak and Dion Phaneuf and would be unwilling to make any deal to add a veteran with term in the beginning stages of the club’s rebuild unless it entailed moving a long-term contract as part of the deal.
Head coach Mike Babcock and Lamoriello are in the beginning stages of the evaluation process regarding the Leafs roster and will likely not rush to judgment.
The earliest that major transactions could be reasonably expected would be around the quarter pole of the regular season (American Thanksgiving), when teams usually have a more accurate gauge on where their rosters are and what weaknesses need to be addressed.
The Leafs have to cut 18 players to reach the 23-man roster limit, but based on the line combinations and defensive pairings being used at the MasterCard Center in Etobicoke on Thursday, it appears there will be no big surprises when the decision is made.
Nazem Kadri skated with wingers James van Riemsdyk and Daniel Winnik, Tyler Bozak replaced Kadri between Shawn Matthias and Joffrey Lupul and Peter Holland skated between Leo Komarov and Brad Boyes. On defense, Dion Phaneuf was paired with veteran Stephane Robidas, Morgan Rielly with Roman Polak, Jake Gardiner with Scott Harrington and Martin Marincin with Matt Hunwick.
The only area of uncertainty is whether Babcock decides to carry 13 or 14 forwards or 7 or 8 defensemen. Mark Arcobello, Richard Panik, Marincin and Harrington are those who could be at risk of losing their spot and everyone except Harrington would have to clear waivers to be sent to the American Hockey League. Arcobello was claimed twice off waivers by Pittsburgh and Arizona last season and Panik was snagged off the wire by Toronto last October.
The Leafs less-than-stellar performance in Buffalo on Tuesday could be a precursor of the club having difficulty adjusting to their new coach’s demands and strategy early in the season.
Carolina head coach Bill Peters (Babcock’s former assistant in Detroit) had similar problems with the Hurricanes last season, as they went 10-23-4 to start the season. But the group rebounded in the second half, going over .500 in spite of moving out veterans Andrej Sekera, Jiri Tlusty and Tim Gleason before the trade deadline.
Babcock hopes that the euphoria and excitement surrounding the Toronto Blue Jays making the post-season for the first time in 22 years keeps the Leafs struggles off the radar for awhile.
“I was in Detroit a number of years when (the Tigers) had great runs in the playoffs and what it does was keep the heat off the Red Wings until we got playing good.” Babcock said. “I want (the Blue Jays) to have a long run so we can get playing good before people start watching us."
See Previous Columns
Leafs Showing Similarities, Struggles With Transition
More Competitive Under Babcock, Campbell Signed; Leafs Vs Sabres
Leafs Release Fraser, Signs With Sens, Radio Ruination (Update)
Leafs Sign Boyes, Release Setoguchi, Glencross, Send Marner Back To Junior
Lamoriello Looking To Bring In Familiar Faces; Leafs Vs Habs
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