There’s nothing like an 0-6-1 start to push the rumour mill into full swing. The following is a quick rundown of some of the talk working its way through the grapevine.
As always, this is only talk — as in, players rumoured to be under consideration, not deals that are on the brink of consummation. Take it for what it is.
Florida
Nathan Horton has been discussed previously on this site, so for the sake of avoiding repetition I won’t go into too much detail here. Horton would certainly fill the need for a player with size who can crash the net and be a presence in the corners. However, two questions come into play: would the Leafs be able to find a way to fit Horton’s salary ($4m) under the cap limit, and what would Florida want in return?
The Panthers, thought to be getting ready to rebuild (again), would be looking for picks and/or prospects in a deal. The Leafs are short on picks and have only a few prospects they would consider moving, so finding a deal that works for both sides may not be a very easy task. Word along the grapevine is a third team may need to be brought into a deal, if the Leafs were to decide to pursue Horton.
Los Angeles
Matt Barry of HockeyBuzz fame opines that Frolov to Toronto may not be out of the realm of possibility. The 27-year old Frolov, an unrestricted free agent after this season, earns a reasonable $2.9 million. To fit this salary under the cap, the Leafs would have to move some salary to L.A. in such a deal … to accomplish this, Barry suggests a most interesting name: Vesa Toskala. Barry asserts that a deal such as Toskala + a defender (it is no secret that LA is actively seeking defensive depth) could be enough to net Frolov and backup goaltender Erik Ersberg.
It is an intriguing thought, although for the record sources here have made no mention of who the Leafs would consider exchanging for Frolov. Rather, the talk has been that L.A. has indeed made him available and the Leafs are considering him as one of many possible options. Frolov has plenty of talent, but carries a reputation as a player who takes more than his share of games off. The chief question is, would Frolov respond to Ron Wilson? Interestingly, Barry notes that Frolov did play quite well for Andy Murray, who handles his players in a manner similar to Wilson.
Minnesota
Next to Florida, Minnesota is the most heavily-rumoured team to be in Toronto’s dealmaking sights, namely because the Leafs have problems in net and the talented Josh Harding is stuck behind Niklas Backstrom for the foreseeable future. In theory, a deal here would make sense for both sides as the Wild (whose record thus far is not much better than that of the Leafs) have a number of injury problems and could be looking to bolster their depth both up front and on the blueline.
Sources suggest the Leafs’ brass has a strong interest in Harding (a pending RFA earning an affordable $1.1m), but there has been no indication to date that Minnesota would be interested in moving him. However, given the need for a shake-up on both sides, this rumour makes more sense than most.
St. Louis
The Blues have struggled out of the gate, and with several key players underperforming, a shake-up could be in store for a team widely considered to be a contender in the West this season. Last season, young guns such as David Perron and David Backes were thought to be untouchable; word on the grapevine is the only untouchables at this point in time appear to be TJ Oshie and young defenders Erik Johnson and Alex Pietrangelo.
The Leafs, in desperate need of a power forward who can fill a top-six role, are said to be very interested in Backes, who has had a rather disappointing start to the season thus far but is signed through next season at a very reasonable $2.5m per. The question is, do the Leafs have the sort of player(s) the Blues would want in any sort of deal? The Blues, a team with plenty of depth up front, are thought to be looking to add some defensive depth to protect against the risk of injuries decimating their blueline corps (Brewer, Jackman, and Colaiacovo all have extensive injury histories).
Garrett’s Take:
The rumours mentioned in this blog all make sense from a needs-standpoint. Clearly, the Leafs’ most pressing needs are stability in net and a power forward up front who can be a force in the corners, crash the net, and create screens and tip-in opportunities.
Harding fits the bill for a goaltender; at 25 the pending RFA is young, affordable at $1.1m, has put up good numbers, and is in a situation where the goaltender in front of him is signed at starter’s salary (Backstrom makes $6m) for three more years following this season. From that perspective, the rumour of the Leafs’ interest has merit. The shoe fits, but of course the question remains: what would the Wild – a team rife with needs – want in return?
Similarly, the forwards rumoured to be of interest to the Leafs fit the bill from a size and skill perspective (Backes and Frolov are 6′2 216, Horton stands 6′2 229; each has scored over 30 goals previously). Of course, any transaction between teams is a two-way street. Whether the Leafs have the necessary pieces to another team’s puzzle remains to be seen.
It is important to note that the players mentioned in this blog are those whose names have been most commonly circulated around the proverbial campfire of late. There has not been talk of deals close to completion; rather, the talk has centred around players the Leafs may be watching closely with eyes toward talking deal with one or more teams in the not-too-distant future.
Looking forward to your thoughts as always.
garrettbauman@mapleleafshotstove.com
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October 23rd, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Garrett Bauman October 23, 2009 12:51 pm
@ingy:
First of all, a .560 winning percentage for a coach who has been around as long as Wilson is actually a very good number.
.
Secondly, I’ve neither seen nor heard Wilson reference his own coaching record at any point. Burke has done so when defending him, perhaps that is what you are thinking of.
~~~
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Yes you have as I’m sure you have witnessed this rant by Wilson.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtbU2ZC8Bd0
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:35 pm
@ Brad
Sorry, you already beat me to it!
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:39 pm
@Mike 11:03am
I agree that the Kubina trade was a failure… not that he’s gone but the fact that we got Exelby and Stuart in return, that was lop-sided…
why was there such a rush to get rid of Kubina on the first day of Free agency, if Burke had shopped him around better and even at the draft we could have received something far better than what we got from Atlanta.
We needed a forward and he get’s us a 7th D-man…
have any of you guys read the papers that Schenn was the 7th/odd man odd at practice yesterday?.. if he sits schenn and plays crapselby I’ll snapped.. he’s not suited for the speed of the game..
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:50 pm
@ Cameron
I read that part and forgot to address it:
Both Theodore and Toskala will not make it through re-call waivers! Thatès quite the risk. And sorry, but Blake isnt getting traded. He has zero value right now and judging from the moves Murray has made so far, I would say theres no chance he brings in Blake.
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:55 pm
you’re probably right…just a thought though.
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we do need to find a way to get rid of him. maybe the islanders will take him back:
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to the leafs:
biron, martinek
to the island:
horton, blake, moore
to the panthers:
hunter, bergenheim, 1st in 2011 (NYI)
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just throwing ideas out there. i personally think blake has got to go!
October 23rd, 2009 at 2:03 pm
With Saturday being Schenn’s first visit home in a leafs uniform I will be PISSED if Wilson puts him in the press box.
October 23rd, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Well, Chicago is a contending team, with some critical signings coming up and some cap unfriendly contracts. How much would they sweeten the pot to take over one of those contracts…
Something like…
Huet + Sharp + 1st from Chicago
Toskala + Kaberle
Campbell + 1st
Kaberle
(sounds wierd but Campbell’s contract is really tough for Chicago).
October 23rd, 2009 at 2:20 pm
Interestingly enough, Campbell was a big part to a possible deal with Chicago for Heatley. (So sayeth Strickland)
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:00 pm
those are both interesting i think those are the first deals ive seen on a forum board in awhile that doesn’t make me laugh. I love the huet sharp and 1st although we need someone to replace kaberle so i think campbell would be nice fit with a first but id also ask for either beach or aliu on top and maybe throw in another roster player? as for backes TREAD WITH CAUTION his stats are not THAT great stajan produces better the backes BUT he is WAY more physical just be careful and understand what were getting with backes before we over pay to get him frolov no UNLESS we can steal him hes ufa after this year and he plays with no heart so against be careful
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:26 pm
@ Garret
In regards to the comments you make earlier about the problems with Schenn; I think your dead wrong. last year this kid was given this team to carry on his back, and he did. I do believe that he logged the most minutes of all the defencemen and he played very,very well. The team depended on him and he didn’t leave them down.
This year it seems that he’s no longer the top dog. They cut his minutes way down and his confedence took a nose dive(i wonder why?). I know everybody seems to have a love affair with White, but it burns my ass to see him get more playing time than Schenn!
Give the kid the minutes he deserves and put some trust in him and he wont let us down.
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:33 pm
I just want to state one thing about Poni and Antropov that people don’t normally look at. Every year but 2 of Antropovs career he has been a plus player. Last year was the first minus that was a good size of the season. Poni has only ever had one season in the minus and it was only 11 games in his first year. This year he is somehow a Plus 5 when we are playing like crap. I always like to bring that up when people trash the old duo.
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:48 pm
I really like the LA trade rumour,I would love to see us get something for Toskala.
October 23rd, 2009 at 5:06 pm
@TrevorE
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yea, Poni/Stajan/Antropov would have been the best checking line in the league. Unfortuneately, they were our top line.
October 23rd, 2009 at 6:26 pm
i saw an article in the star about wilson possibly sending schenn to the pressbox on saturday, therefore ruining his ‘homecoming’ but didn’t he play last year in vancouver? i was at that game!
October 23rd, 2009 at 9:43 pm
The Leafs’ pro scouting sucks.
It’s one thing for fans to replay Exelby annhilating that that weak-kneed hypocrite Sundin on Youtube (that clip never gets old), but it’s a whole other deal for Leaf scouts/BB who’ve seen Exelby play multiple times trade Kubina, a D who logged lots of minutes and is versatile … for a defenseman whose positional play belongs in the ECHL.
Watching him play 4 shifts, you know all you need to know about X-Man’s viability.
October 23rd, 2009 at 10:17 pm
@HHT – the Leafs pro scouting sucks?
What about their amatuer scouting? Last year all the Leafs draft picks came form either the OHL or the good old US of A! Do you not think there might have been skilled players in the other Junior leagues or Europe?
Bloody ridiculous!
The Leafs must have scouts in other places than Ontario or the U.S. of A. don’t they? If so, they must be #&^%$$ frustrated!
October 24th, 2009 at 1:25 am
There won’t be many draft picks for scouts to worry about in the next two years …
October 24th, 2009 at 9:33 am
@HHT And ain’t that the truth! What about Kessel to Boston for two first round picks? We’ll let Boston keep the 2nd rounder for being so kind letting us getting our picks back!
October 30th, 2009 at 4:11 am
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