Latest on Phil Kessel, Eric Staal, Ryan O’Reilly, Erik Cole, Antoine Vermette, Joffrey Lupul and more.
Latest “Rumblings” from Pierre LeBrun.
Erik Cole garnering some interest in the NHL rumor mill.
ESPN.COM: Pierre LeBrun reports reports the Chicago Blackhawks rumored interest in Arizona Coyotes forward Antoine Vermette could drive up his trade value. The New York Rangers and Winnipeg Jets are also believed keeping tabs on Vermette…LeBrun believes the Boston Bruins will make a move by the trade deadline. He lists Dallas’ Erik Cole, Calgary’s Curtis Glencross and (of course) Buffalo’s Chris Stewart as trade options…The Washington Capitals could pursue a top-nine forward by the deadline. LeBrun lists Cole, Glencross and (to a lesser degree) Toronto’s Joffrey Lupul as being on their radar…Carolina Hurricanes GM Ron Francis said he’s not trading the Staal brothers…LeBrun wonders if Florida winger Tomas Fleischmann might be a good fit with the Anaheim Ducks…The Detroit Red Wings have interest in Edmonton blueliner Jeff Petry and Arizona rearguard Zbynek Michalek but only if the price is right (second-round pick and a middling prospect).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: With the Dallas Stars fading in the playoff race, Erik Cole is garnering some attention in the rumor mill. He’s on pace for 20 goals and 40 points. He also leads the Stars in hits. Could be a good pick-up for a playoff contender seeking an experienced physical forward with a good scoring touch…If the Leafs actually find a taker for the oft-injured and expensive Joffrey Lupul, it’ll be one helluva move, especially if they can do it without taking back a toxic contract in return.
Updates from Sportsnet.
SPORTSNET: Jeremy Roenick suggests Toronto Maple Leafs winger Phil Kessel and Carolina Hurricanes center Eric Staal could use a change of scenery, suggesting the Leafs and Hurricanes swap them…Scott Lewis cites reports claiming Colorado Avalanche head coach Patrick Roy said he’ll be very surprised if his club trades center Ryan O’Reilly at the trade deadline.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kessel and Staal would have to agree to such a move (which seems very unlikely), but it’s certainly not the craziest trade suggestion which stands no chance of happening that I’ve heard this year.
Latest on the Rangers and Flyers.
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS: Pat Leonard believes the cap-strapped New York Rangers will have to look elsewhere for blueline help after the Carolina Hurricanes shipped defenseman Andrej Sekera yesterday to the LA Kings. Options could include Edmonton’s Jeff Petry and Arizona’s Zbynek Michalek.
CSNPHILLY.COM: Tim Panaccio reports the Flyers have limited options heading toward the trade deadline. He believes Flyers GM Ron Hextall would gladly move “Braydon Coburn and his $4.5 million salary cap hit next year had the Kings’ needs remained. Or Luke Schenn’s $3.6 million hit. Or even Nicklas Grossmann’s $3.5 million hit.” The problem, however, is they all have term left on their respective contracts. Panaccio also doubts anyone will take center Vincent Lecavalier off the Flyers’ hands.
I don’t see why the leafs don’t just trade kessel for the first overall pick (McDavid) who wants to go to Toronto in the summer, just wait till lottery draft is done then send him off for a great player in mcdavid.
Phil Kessel plus plus does not land you McDavid…Go back to NHL 2015 on PS4 to live your fantasy…lol
Wow whoever gets the first pick would never do that. Dumbest thing I have heard. Let’s trade the first overall for a maybe 30 goal scorer for a few more years for maybe the best prospect since Crosby.
Someone shoves a mic under McDavid’s nose and asks him if he ever dreamed of playing for the Leafs. Coming from the area what the hell did you expect him to say “nah – why would I want to go to that dysfunctional franchise” ??? Of course he’s going to gush all over them – he’s not an idiot. But to definitively say he “wants to go to Toronto”?? He’ll happily go wherever he’s drafted. As for trading Kessel to whichever teams gets the # 1 pick for that pick – dream on.
Really, I’m from the area, most kids I grew up with that played hockey, hated the Leafs… As a matter of fact there are as many anti-leafers in Southern Ontario as there are Leafs fans. And I know, every single one of them, would respond with a resounding NO.
But let’s get this clear, there is not a chance, that Buffalo will trade the 1st overall pick or even the second for Phil Kessel. And if they do, the Pegula’s should offer me a job.
I’m from the area too, except somehow most of the guys I grew up playing hockey with were and are Leaf fans…with the exception of a few B’s and Flyers fans…my point is, I’m pretty sure you are just blowing steam out your….
I believe earlier today you said trading Clarkson was a dream too George…careful not to fall off that 30 foot tall horse of yours.
Give Nonis credit for dumping Clarkson not simply the Leafs.
Hardly a trade at all more like spending their way out of a hole. Still the Leafs r moving in the right direction since Nonis was relieved of forcing to ice a bad product.
I was one of the first to admit I was wrong re Clarkson (in the Canadian section) so no fear of falling of any horse. In the meantime, don’t you or anyone else try and tell me they foresaw that remote possibility, Even Nonis didn'[t see it. It took the Columbus GM to put the bug in his ear. And you can bet that cozy door will be closed at the next CBA.
Ya ok, would you rather go to Buffalo ? Wake up.
Looking at the young talent Buffalo has on their team now and in their system, would I rather go there and be anonymous than the Toronto fish bowl? In a New York minute.
That is a joke, right? Please tell me that was a joke. Whoever gets the #1 or #2 overall pick is going to want a Lindros-trade-like return for their pick. McDavid is projected to put up numbers similar to Crosby and Malkin and you think teams would give that up for Phil and his awful contract? Sorry if you were joking, but I seriously can’t tell. Some Leafs fans would be that delusional.
Yeah you’re dreaming. Mcdavid pick will not* be moved, anyone who would want it would have to give up wayy to much. An aging player doesn’t get you the closest thing to Crosby since Crosby. Toronto fans are so funny, you all hate on kessel and then still expect him to get you something amazing in return
i heard mtl wants barney rubble and fred flinstone and is willing to give a 1st rounder
Hi John no MTL Offered Barney Ruble Fred Flintstone and Bam Bam to the Leafs and they said no we already have them there names are Phil Kessel as Barney Ruble JVR as Bam Bam and Joffery Lupul as Fred Flintstone
I know he wasn’t listed in this page but it is a rumour page so bare with me.
I listened to Kypreos this morning on the fan and he said leafs had a chance to trade phaneuf to la for richards, a later pick and a first but leafs wouldn’t do it. Anyone else hear this before. I’m not sure what to think of it… Get a first and a pick for phaneuf but have to take richards too..
Like a lot of these pundits, Nick heard from a guy who knows a guy whose brother-in-law’s friend is a janitor at the Air Canada Centre and he allegedly overheard that conversation coming out of the Leafs head office.
Why lose a Top 4 D man n take on an anchor such as Richards? Better to wait for a real offer or keep Phaneuf.
I’d heard that too Aki, although I heard it was LA who said no because the Leafs wanted Taffoli or Pearson included in the deal.
So is this kinda like Gretzky ? Anyone can be traded hahaha… Clarkson GONE
Ugh this is where I wish capgeek still existed
nhlnumbers.com is a great website to use for nhl cap data ever since capgeek went down. Nhlnumbers is practically instant…I checked the second I heard about the Clarkson deal and he was already on the B Jackets.
Wow when your hand cuffed by a big contract just buy your way out. This Clarkson for Hortn deal is an excellent example of the past problems I spoke of hat pestered the Leafs. That problem being that hey toss money away the. Use money to fix the problem. Many argued that it is now a cap world and everyone is capped as to what they spend.
Well now we see a team acquiring a guy and willing to pay him to sit at home and heal for however long it may take. Horton may not play again. They take his cap hit and push it a side and hand out thhe loads of money they have, it is pretty much the same they were paying Clarkson but now hey pay it for no services. That is what I mean by a team loaded with cash. Fixing its problems with cash. In the past it caused them to make stupid moves,
Columbus on the other hand didn’t want to pay a player even if it gave cap relief. They wanted to spend the money on a guy that skates on the ice, they can’t afford to just throw money out the window for nothing. They are now hoping Clarkson will at least score a few goals for them and help them win.
I thought Clarkson was doomed to be a leaf for some time now but the money of a big club came through they traded a bad contract for another bad contract yet get the cap relief.
My understanding is that CLB could not get the cap relief due to LTIR because they are not against the cap like the Leafs and it was an uninsurable contract because of the back issue flaring up before Horton returned from shoulder surgery. That’s why this deal happened. CLB is now playing to ice a player instead of paying a player who cannot physically play at this point, and Toronto will get the cap relief of LTIR player.
Check your head it only costs the team the cash not on the salary cap so if they wanna pay him money that never counts than who cares
Noni’s is going to get GM of the year at thus rate…Clarkson has just been traded to Columbus for Horton. And everyone thought Clarkson was untouchable…
Ya I’m really curious to who is actually making these moves. Seems a total different line of actions and can believe nonis has become this good all of the sudden
Maybe it isn’t Nonis. Maybe Shanahan is working the phones and cashing in on some old favors?
I thought he was untradeable…..This armchair GMing is a humbling profession.
Columbus is a budget team. The cap may be 80 mill but Columbus until things turn and get better is going to be near the floor. Clarkson helps them achieve that.
Columbus is also hoping Clarkson can turn things a bit and give some value for money. Building wise Columbus is in way better shape than the Leafs so who knows maybe Clarkson finds somebody to gel with and makes this a great trade for the Bluejackets.
Toronto wise this is a great trade. Even if Horton remains on LTIR the leafs have the cash to pay him and get cap relief from the salary paid. In essence Toronto just freed up $5.25 mill a year.
Plus Hortons contract wasn’t insured, so columbus was paying him to sit in the stands, so now they get a guy who can actually lace them up and play for the same money, albeit highly overpaid. And yes this is great for TO as they lose Clarksons contract, and have to pay Horton not to play but get the cap relief.
Not to worry, the Leafs will find someone else to overpay come July 1. Gotta spend that money.
We’ll give you Lecavalier for the 3rd you got for Winnik.
Solves our issue, and helps Toronto at center, and also spends that freed up money for you.
But they also took Horton back and he will never play again haha
Sure can take a load of short term bad contracts back now if they decide to deal some big contracts…say Phaneuf, kessel, Lupul or Bozak a guy like Phaneuf moving the Leafs now can take over 12 mill back in contracts if it was worth their while….so nice to have cap space.
Everyone thought both were untouchable, we just found out what happens what happens when to unmovable objects are In play and one side doesn’t care if they spend money on a guy sitting at home providing them nothing.
So I’m guessing that this was just the start of Nonis’ weekend. I’d imagine we will see Bozak gone by the weekend and maybe one of Kessel or Phanuef on deadline day. I realize that these are big money trades, but I think that the dominos have started to fall and it’s just going to continue now.
The Leafs got NOTHING for Clarkson. Nathan Horton was traded because the news for him is not good. His career is over. For the rest of his contract Nathan will get paid but likely has laced up the skates for the last time in the NHL.
Columbus has to watch every dollar spent and can not take the risk while if the Leafs have to they can pay 6 Million a year and not blink twice as the salary won’t count against the cap unless Nathan ever plays again.
It is going to get much more difficult to move Phil, Dion, or Joffery because the Ownership and fans expect returns.
Clarkson was deemed by all as being untradable, including me, and Nonis proved us all wrong. I still will be very surprised if Nonis can scorch the earth entirely this season.
Best wishes to Nathan and his family. I hope you prove all this speculation wrong.
LOL Russ…”the leafs got NOTHING…” Ya I guess $5m+ in cap space over how many years ie a terrible contract nothing I guess. If Horton is done then the leafs are paying him while he’s on LTIR. Money, you know the only thing the Leafs care about, they have lots and can pay for this mistake and luckily it cost them only dollars.
As for the BJ they have an anchor of a contract that will help them stay above the floor and the money is actually used on a player playing.
Great trade by both teams, especially the Leafs.
@Ron
You might notice the post before exclaiming the second coming of Christ, in Nonis’s body, coming to save the Leafs.
To make it simple for you… When Nonis makes the trifecta and gets the perceived values for Lupul, Phaneuf, and Kessel then come and bang on yonder chest.
Until then, go back to playing “Where’s Waldo?”
Russ maybe if you didnt romanticize things, making dumb stuff up and quit writing such drama novels people here wouldnt think you are such a tool. Just moving Clarkson retaining no salary and having the space is a win,ridiculous you would make it out like its not because the Leafs didnt get anything in return for possibly the worst contract in the NHL.
wow —i can’t believe most people just don’t get it
the leafs get nothing—the leafs get cap space for now but that only comes in handy if they are going to add and stay at the cap—-has anyone noticed that they are eliminating players and contracts and rebuilding—duh
works out for columbus—now they have a player that can contribute maybe a little something
toronto gets a guy with back problems—-what a waste—terrible trade
ownership fixing nonis’s crap signing—-now get rid of blozak and phaneuf—
the only way i see this working out is if it hinges on a bigger salary takeback in the next couple of days for picks ie. richards la or whatever
Aah Grasshoppah so much yet to learn. Your nose may be on your face but look beyond. Leafs r rebuilding n not contending anytime soon. There is no reason to spend to the cap either unless they covet specific players. Avoiding historically repeated mistakes is not wise.
funny all these people that say an extra 5 mill in capspace means nothing to a rebuilding team trying to rid itself of long term deals or pick up some youth and draft picks,
you realize they could now either take on a bad contract like Richards or any other number of 5 mill deals like Lecalvier if it means the team sheding them gives up an asset right? Or when trying to rid tjemselves of contracts like Phaneuf or Bozak they can now easily take more money back in the deal if it means getting a better asset or if it means taking on a number of contracts that cost more and are shorter term right? The “they only get cap relief if they are at the cap argument itis possibly thr dumbest thing Ive ever heard, they are at the cap. and have an extra 5 mill in space which is a big help when trying to make moves losing long term deals or taking on short term bad deals to aquire young assesets.
I think I remember you saying you are a leaf fan.. If I’m remember correct then man you are the most negative leaf fan ever.
I am very critical of how the club has and is being managed Aki. I gave Nonis credit earlier but for people to exclaim how great a manager Nonis is complete hogwash.
Nonis himself created this situation so to be celebrating him is silly.
Columbus GM initiated this trade, so don’t go patting Nonis on the back so fast. Nonis had to go to his bosses and say I have a chance to fix my mistake with Clarkson but it will cost the team 26 million. If I cost my company 26 million I would be fired in a heartbeat, no matter how much money it had. Toronto got lucky here because there was no insurance on Horton and Columbus couldn’t afford to pay someone that wasn’t playing.
The deal was about cap space and to some of the wealthier teams in the NHL it is more valuable than money. The Leafs got 5.2m in cap space so it was a success however how they turn around and spend it is the biggest challenge they face.
So clarkson for Horton? Jagr to fla? Why isn’t there any hint of this here? Did I miss it? I understand nobody has a crystal ball but Kyle you seem to be behind the 8ball here, it’s hurting your cred. Anyone can put today’s news in one place but we’re looking for some more insight here, not just a forum. I read someone else being quite critical lately and thought they were way off base but I do empathize with them a little more now. Enjoy reading you comments section and articles , hopefully you bring us something material soon. Just my 2 cents not implying I can do any better.
I beleive jäger to Florida was touched. That did not surprise me. Clarkson we all bought was pretty unmovable. We failed to realize how much money can save a team.
BAHAHAHAHA! *drinks* BAHAHAHAHA! *drinks some more* BAHAHAHA!
So how bout that Clarkson trade?
THE SKY IS FALLING!!!!! If Clarkson can be traded…..there is hope for me ………… Dan Boyle/J.Moore/Tanner Glass and Lee Stepniak? THANK YOU LEAF NATION!!!! I DO BELIEVE IN MIRACLES! LOL
Clarkson was traded before Richards Bahahahaha!
Literally crying Im laughing so happy right now…
*drinks some more*
…wait a sec does this mean Nonis keeps his job?
He may not only keep his job….If Phaneuf gets dealt….He may be the GM of the year.
Stepniak just score and J. Moore set him up….Yes, the sky is falling and two miracles in one night is all I can handle!!!
…better than Christmas NYR, better than Christmas.
I think Clarkson may surprise some and turn his season around in Columbus. His style seems to fit there. It now means that Cbus will probably move Atkinson or some other top 9 players since this creates a logjam. Also, They have 9 Dmen on NHL contracts, 3 are injured but one the way back soon. At least one will probably be moved. Wasn’t Nonis the one who signed Clarkson in the first place? I think this move will work out for both teams.
Was sort of hoping Jagr to the Isles, do the Patrick division sweep! However his speed or lack thereof doesn’t fit in , hopefully Grabow , CZ and more importantly KO are back soon! LGI !!!!
Are Marc Savard and Chris Pronger still available ??
Lol
Kassel to Philly for Simmonds, 1st round pick in 15 and Pronger. 8mil for 8mil in salary…Pronger is buried on ltir along with Horton. Leafs get Simmonds to replace Kessel, and free up another 5 mil in cap space. Dreaming probably, but with Clarkson gone, I’m not sure if this is all a dream today anyways.
Philly has enough of their own money thwy won’t need to give up a good player in order to rid themselves of printers contract.
U forget ur meds LOL
If you believe hextall, he will probably be seeking to sell high and create cap space… And most definitely is not giving up picks.
So I’m not a leafs fan, AT ALL, but are the leafs looking for equal value for Kessel or future value? If it’s future value I think there is a deal you could work out with the Sharks who have about 8 mill in cap space and need a miracle to save their season or at least make their fan base optimistic for next season, sort of what leaf management has been doing for 50 years to keep you all coming back even though the leafs have only made the playoffs less than 5 times in most of your life times. You could get a package of Hertl or Nieto, goldobin or mueller, wingles this years first next years 2nd. Throw in Bernier and the Sharks throw in Niemmi and changes next years pick to a first.
SJ is not a max cap spender
Wait, did I read that right:
Kessel
Bernier
-for-
Hertl/Nieto
Goldobin/Mueller
Wingles
1st 2015
1st 2016
????
Wow, talk about your typical leaf fan over-valuing their players…
Kessel has a bad rep AND 8-million dollar a year contract, so why would SJ dump all their promising talent for that?
AND THEN ADD 2 first rounders???
Not to mention the Bernier (2.71GAA / 0.916SV) for Niemi (2.62GAA / 0.913SV) swap, for which Toronto ups a 2nd rd pick to another 1st rd pick…
So Clarkson gets moved unexpectedly, there is some cap space now thanks to the LTIR. My biggest fear, as a Leafs fan, is that the “pressure” of the cap space is now not as apparent or pressing, the rebuild will become the standard piecemeal retool and not the blow up that needs to occur.
Relax n kick back….
Act III is over but much more to come..grab some popcorn
Great move by the Leafs. That is cap space recovery at its best and sees the Leafs taking advantage of the one resource other teams just don’t have ($$$). I guess it makes sense for the Jackets as well. Only question I can’t seem to figure out is I assumed insurance would kick in at some point?
Shanahan & John Davidson made that deal … kept their respective gm’s out of it