As the Leafs continue to look at their options ahead of today’s trade deadline at 3:00pm ET, one of the aspects to consider is who or what they can use as a makeweight in any deal.

In this respect, Tim Connolly is a healthy scratch for the Marlies ahead of their game today against the Lake Erie Monsters.  While it was always considered a risk to sign the former Buffalo Sabre, he has still been considered a disappointment by the Leafs.

After signing a two-year $9.5 million contract in 2011, Connolly had 13 goals and 23 assists in 70 games during his first season.  Matters quickly deteriorated for the former fifth overall draft pick as he was sent down to the Marlies at the beginning of this campaign after clearing waivers.

However, despite Connolly’s career being littered by inconsistency and injuries, he does have the talent and ability to dominate games.  The hope is that someone will be convinced to take him as part of any potential trade, although he is in the final year of his contract and set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season.

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• By paul.taylor
• April 3, 2013
• Comment

With the NHL trade deadline fast approaching, we can expect a flurry of activity between now and 3:00pm ET.  And while there is no sense of urgency on the part of the Leafs, they would still like to add some experience if possible.

In particular, Dave Nonis would like to upgrade the blue line and has been linked to the likes of Jay Bouwmeester and Keith Yandle during the last few days.  However, with Bouwmeester now in St Louis and any Yandle deal looking increasingly unlikely, the Leafs are considering other options.

One possibility is Jamie McBain, who the Carolina Hurricans are actively shopping.  This is somewhat surprising after McBain led all Hurricans defencemen in points during the 2011-12 season, resulting in a contract extension.

While the potential addition of McBain may not necessarily add the experience Nonis is looking for, it is still an attractive proposition, especially considering the American’s age (25).  He would also come with a salary cap hit of just $1.8 million per year.

UPDATE: On Monday, we reported on how the Leafs had been given permission to talk to the Calgary Flames goaltender, Miikka Kiprusoff.  However, latest reports now indicate Kiprusoff has decided to stay in Calgary and will retire at the end of this season.

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• By paul.taylor
• April 3, 2013
• Comment

While the Maple Leafs continue to look for an experienced goaltender as insurance for James Reimer in the event of making the playoffs, some experts think they would be better served by upgrading their top four on the blue line.

While one possibile target, Jay Bouwmeester, has gone to the St Louis Blues, the Leafs have also been considering Stephane Robidas. In fact, according to reports, the Leafs had a scout in attendance at Sunday’s Dallas Stars matchup against the L.A. Kings to watch the Canadian defenceman.

At age 36 and with his contract set to expire after next season, Robidas would provide an ideal short-term solution for a Leafs team looking to add some grit to their lineup.  There’s no denying the former Montreal Canadien’s draft pick is the type of player coach Randy Carlyle would love to have on his team.

Obviously the key point is what the Leafs would have to offer in return for the Stars alternate captain.  Potential makeweights in any deal include a third round draft pick and Mike Komisarek, who, after clearing waivers, is currently assigned to the Marlies.

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• By paul.taylor
• April 2, 2013
• Comment

As confirmed by several media sources, the Maple Leafs have been given permission to talk to the Calgary Flames Miikka Kiprusoff.  GM Dave Nonis has voiced his preference for some veteran insurance to back up James Reimer with a playoff spot looking likely and the Finnish goaltender apparently fits the bill.

However, the 2007 All-Star recently stated that if he was traded anywhere, he would not report due to family reasons.  As such, it makes sense for the Leafs to speak directly to Kiprusoff to see if the matter is worth pursuing further.

If the 36-year old goaltender does agree to any deal, it could be dependant on getting an extension of around three years in what would likely be his final NHL contract. In terms of compensation, the Flames would be looking for at least a third rounder.

Kiprusoff is slated to start in net for the Flames tonight for ‘the battle of Alberta’ against the Edmonton Oilers.

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• By paul.taylor
• April 1, 2013
• Comment

With 112 goals this season, third-most in the NHL, scoring is not an issue for the Maple Leafs.  However, the same cannot be said on the other side of the puck.  And while a lot of the talk has centered around bringing in a veteran goaltender, adding experience to the blue line would also help.

As such, with the trade deadline fast approaching, the Leafs are considering several options to help bolster their defensive ranks.  As previously reported, one possibility is the Calgary Flames Jay Bouwmeester.

However, another name under consideration for Leafs GM Dave Nonis is Keith Yandle.  At 26, the Coyotes defenceman is just entering his prime and has postseason experience, which could be beneficial to the Leafs in the increasingly likely event that they make the playoffs.

Another plus is that the Coyotes alternate captain is more than capable on the offensive end.  In the last three years, he has averaged just under 48 points per season, including a career-high 59 during the 2010-11 campaign.

Of course the biggest hurdle will be convincing the Coyotes to part with Yandle.  They showed how much they value the 2012 All-Star by signing him to a five-year contract extension in 2011.

Nonis would prefer to move Clarke MacArthur in any potential deal.  However, it may take offering Tyler Bozak at the very least to get the Coyotes to even contemplate parting ways with their talented defenceman.

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• By paul.taylor
• April 1, 2013
• Comment

According to certain media outlets, the Leafs are still interested in trading for Roberto Luongo and are currently engaged in talks with the Vancouver Canucks.  However, it has always been our understanding that any such deal is unlikely.

And in that respect, it appears it is actually Canucks GM Mike Gillis who has contacted the Leafs in respect of a potential deal.  If true, this is particularly interesting, given that Gillis has claimed in recent months that they have some serious offers on the table.

So is this just a case of Gillis seeing if they can get the Leafs to beat any deals currently in place?  Unlikely.  The reality is that Gillis never expected to still have Luongo this close to the trade deadline.

While we would not accuse the Canucks GM of getting desperate, it definitely appears that if the Leafs, or indeed anyone, would like to make a trade for Luongo, now’s the time to do it.

For the record, we still believe that, amongst other things, the length of Luongo’s contract is too much to overcome for Dave Nonis and the Leafs to come to any agreement.

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• By paul.taylor
• March 29, 2013
• Comment

It’s unlikely the Leafs will be making any headlines like the Calgary Flames after their decision to trade Jarome Iginla to the Pittsburgh Penguins at the eleventh hour.  However, Dave Nonis, although by no means desperate, is still open to any potential moves that can improve the team ahead of next Wednesday’s trade deadline.

While a playoff spot is by no means guaranteed at this point, Nonis knows his team, one of the youngest in the NHL, could use more veteran experience. In the event they do make the postseason, this is especially true on defence.

In that respect, the Leafs may well follow the Penguins lead and look to make a deal with the Flames, who have finally admitted they are in rebuild mode.  In particular, the Leafs are interested in former third overall draft pick, Jay Bouwmeester.

While critics argue Bouwmeester is not physical enough on the ice, this can be countered by his having the longest active ‘iron man’ streak in the NHL.  Renowned for his ability to get the puck up the ice, he is often among the league leaders in ice time, which could benefit Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf.

The question is; what would the Leafs have to (or be prepared to) give up for the two-time All-Star?  One possibility is to move either Tyler Bozak or Clarke MacArthur, who will both become unrestricted free agents this off-season.

With the Leafs hopeful of making a deal with Bozak, this makes alternate captain MacArthur more likely to be part of any potential trade for Bouwmeester.  One sticking point to consider is that Bouwmeester, like Iginla, has control over where he goes.

However,  Leafs fans can be reassured Nonis will not compromise their position.  While a veteran defenceman is desired, the Leafs are prepared to stick with what they currently have if a fair deal cannot be agreed.

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• By paul.taylor
• March 28, 2013
• Comment

With the NHL trade deadline just over a week away, speculation is heating up in Leafs Nation.  The question is; which rumours, if any, have some validity?

The main one still doing the rounds concerning the Leafs is in respect of their goaltending situation.  As previously reported on Blue Toro, any move for a young, talented net-minder is pretty much a non-starter.

Using the L.A. Kings Jonathan Bernier as an example of this, there’s little point trading for someone who will not represent a significant upgrade over what the Leafs already have.  And keep in mind Bernier has been playing behind a more solid defence than the one currently residing in Southern Ontario.

If GM Dave Nonis is going to trade for anyone, it will be a veteran who can help the team make, and hopefully progress in, the playoffs.  However, even here options are limited.  There’s little chance of the Canucks convincing the Leafs to take Roberto Luongo, especially with the length of his contract and the salary cap set to drop next season.  As it is, expect Nonis to stick with the one-two combo of James Reimer and Ben Scrivens for now.

The other big trade speculation out there concerns Phil Kessel, in large part because next year he will be an unrestricted free agent.  A decision has to be made soon on if the Leafs should re-sign the winger or trade him while he still has some value.

People can complain all they want about Kessel not being a leader, but this doesn’t change the fact he’s still produced effectively throughout his four-year tenure in Toronto.  In that respect, as we approach the key part of the season and with the team fighting to make the playoffs, now’s not the time to get rid of one of your more consistent performers.

Finally, an interesting situation appears to be developing in respect of Tyler Bozak.  Regardless of almost being the number one centre by default, he’s still been a key part of the team’s success this season.  However, with Bozak set to become a UFA this summer, Nonis again has a tough decision to make.

While there’s no denying his success as a faceoff man and his overall physical play, (which coach Randy Carlyle loves) one of the main sticking point will be over Bozak’s salary demands.  The chances are the Leafs will have to overpay to keep him, especially after the contract they gave Mikhail Grabovski last season.

However, while Bozak is the most likely to be moved before the trade deadline, again, we don’t see it happening at this stage of the season, save for an offer that blows Nonis away.

Overall, with the exception of any minor moves, expect it to be pretty much status quo for the Leafs at the trade deadline.  The summer, however, will be another matter altogether.

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• By paul.taylor
• March 26, 2013
• Comment

Despite James Reimer showing signs of returning to his form of two seasons ago, combined with Ben Scrivens providing solid support, rumours are still circulating in respect of the Leafs goaltending situation.

For example, the Luongo trade talk refuses to go away.  On top of this, rumours of a move for Jonathan Bernier have resurfaced, with recent reports indicating GM Dave Nonis has held talks with the L.A. Kings about their backup goaltender.

How realistic such a move would be is debateable, especially in light of recent performances from Reimer, with Bernier not really representing an upgrade on the Leafs current number one.

The only way any deal for the talented but inexperienced Bernier would even remotely make sense is if it was in exchange for Scrivens instead.  As such, it appears that this is one story that can be put to rest, especially given that such a scenario would suit the Leafs more than the Kings.

In fact, apart from the extremely unlikely event that Canucks GM Mike Gillis makes Nonis a favourable offer in respect of Luongo, expect the Leafs to stick with the one-two punch of Reimer and Scrivens for the remainder of this season.

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• By paul.taylor
• February 7, 2013
• Comment

Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston has referred to Phil Kessel as the most polarizing athlete in Toronto.  I disagree.  They are other people more deserving of this title, including the likes of Andrea Bargnani and Brett Lawrie.

Unlike them, Kessel does not encourage the same level of contrasting emotions of love and hate.  Now, if Johnston had said the situation regarding Kessel being traded was polarizing, then he would have been onto something.

For a start, opinion is equally divided on if Kessel should be traded now or re-signed before he becomes an unrestricted free agent at the end of next season.  But that’s only the beginning.

For anyone calling Kessel a proven natural goalscorer, someone else is saying he’s not consistent or tough enough.  If you mention the need to trade him to bring in a top-line centre, another person stresses any such centre needs a person of Kessel’s abilities to help them thrive.

Mention how Kessel and Joffrey Lupul have a chemistry that has developed into a potentially explosive partnership and you will get the rebuttal that this is irrelevant if Lupul keeps getting injured.

What makes this whole scenario more of a conundrum is that the public can’t even agree on if the media coverage of Kessel is a good thing.  Some fans can’t get enough, wanting to read every single bit of detail possible, while others blame the media for creating and stirring up the whole trade rumour in the first place.

But if a trade is going to happen, then what’s the asking price going to be for Kessel?  Again, it really depends on who you ask, but you would expect a decent return for a player who is still only 25 and pretty much guarantees you 30 goals a season.  One prominent rumour is that the Leafs want a top three forward and first round draft pick.

Ironically, that first round pick is one area the Leafs are likely guaranteed to fall short of what the Bruins obtained from them for Kessel.  Boston had the good fortune to get two high first round draft picks (and one second round pick) for Kessel by virtue of the Leafs finishing poorly in the standings.

Unfortunately, the odds are that it will be one of the top teams coming in for Kessel to help fortify their line-up, meaning any such draft compensation will not be nearly as fruitful for the Leafs.

Which brings us to the main question of where, if anywhere, Kessel will end up?  Unfortunately, the answer is no clearer than whether or not he should even be traded in the first place.  It figures that he would make a great complimentary player on any team with legitimate hopes of winning the Stanley Cup.

But by far the most intriguing rumour involves the Canucks and Roberto Luongo.  Aided by Kessel apparently wanting out of Toronto, this would pave the way for the Leafs to finally get Luongo to solidify their inconsistent goaltending issues.  Undoubtedly, the relationship GM Davis Nonis has with the Vancouver franchise would help in negotiating the other aspects of any such trade and making it more feasible.

As always with trade rumours such as these, you can guarantee there will be several more twists and turns before the situation is eventually resolved.  We can only hope that resolution comes sooner rather than later to avoid any ongoing distraction for both the team and Kessel himself.

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• By paul.taylor
• January 31, 2013
• Comment