Hockey Trade Rumors

It was like watching the same game twice in one day.

Saw my boy’s peewee team dominate and lose in the afternoon, then watched the Maple Leafs dominate and lose in the evening.

Such is the sport of hockey.

Even though the Leafs have started off pretty well compared last year, there still missing some vital pieces to be considered a playoff team. Some players have been awesome, some mediocre, and some just down right terrible, actually embarrassing.

The New Jersey Devils are weak on the blueline and the Toronto Maple Leafs are in the market for a top-six forward. Shouldn’t they be talking a little Tomas Kaberle? In fact, I have heard that is exactly the case. We all know Leafs GM Brian Burke has indicated he would honour Kaberle’s no-movement clause, but we also know Kaberle gave Toronto a list of teams that he would consider being sent to in a trade. You’d have to think Burke would be able to put pressure on Kaberle to accept a deal if the Devils offered him a quality forward.

Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello says he has faith that John MacLean can guide the team out of its early season slump, and that “it’s ridiculous” to suggest the rookie head coach might be fired.

Instead, Lamoriello called upon the Devils’ “top players” to raise their games after Wednesday’s 5-2 loss in San Jose left the team at 2-7-1 – its worst record through 10 games since it opened 1983-84 at 1-9-0.

Knock, knock, knocking on the Senators’ door Saturday night will be a big kid wearing a bear suit and mask who has impressively bagged a win for his team every time out this season.

Among those ready to answer, finally, is Jason Spezza.

There’s a lot of discussion right now regarding the Boston Bruins and how they’re going to handle their salary cap situation. They might have more time on their hands than most seem to think as center Marc Savard remains several weeks away before he’s ready to return from concussion issues.

Sources close to Savard tell me he’s passed the necessary baseline test to resume playing but has yet to begin practicing with the team. He is skating on his own but the same source tells me Savard is “Nowhere close to returning to live game action”. Trading Savard is virtually impossible considering his health issues.

Like nearly everyone else who follows hockey, Phoenix Coyotes GM Don Maloney had heard trade rumors that he was shopping talented defenseman Keith Yandle.

“I hope it wasn’t Keith starting them, that was my only concern,” Maloney told Sporting News with a laugh.

The imminent return of winger Alex Burrows (left) means all the Canuck forwards who lack job security may have only one more game — Monday’s against the New Jersey Devils — to prove to coach Alain Vigneault they deserve to stay in the NHL.

Two weeks ago the Toronto Maple Leafs demoted Jeff Finger and his $3.5 million salary to the AHL, which served as an unofficial memo to the remaining 29 teams in the NHL: “We have $4 million in cap room now; make us your best offer.”

At first, that didn’t generate much action. But things have suddenly changed. I was told Tuesday night that things have heated up somewhat, although still no trade is imminent. I hear two unidentified teams have gained traction with the Leafs in talks.

The imminent return of defenceman Andrei Markov means Canadiens general manager Pierre Gauthier will be faced with his first major personnel decision since the start of the season.

If the Canadiens decide to maintain a 22-man roster, they will have an extra defenceman and that means Alexandre Picard or Ryan O’Byrne will probably have a new address next week.