Brown? Nash? Leafs need a spark
Too bad, if it’s true, that Dustin Brown is off the market.
The Los Angeles Kings captain would have looked awfully nice in a Maple Leafs uniform.
Brown is the kind of player that Leafs general manager Brian Burke loves, one who knocks people all over the ice, scores goals and oozes leadership.
But with Kings general manager Dean Lombardi backing off on Friday from the idea that Brown is available, the Leafs likely will have to turn their attention elsewhere.
It’s obvious to all that Burke has to do something before Monday at 3 p.m. Maybe Matt Frattin, if he indeed is the player recalled from the Toronto Marlies on Saturday, will provide a spark. Does anyone see that spark lighting a fire that lasts for another 20 games and springs the Leafs into the playoffs?
Teams that are stable, no matter what the situation is, don’t lose seven of eight, as the Leafs have done, in such a crucial time of the season.
The Washington Capitals, visitors to the Air Canada Centre on Saturday night, have been struggling, but so too were the San Jose Sharks before they departed the ACC with two points in regulation on Thursday.
Rick Nash would be a wonderful acquisition for the Leafs, but Burke does not have the proper assets to acquire the Columbus Blue Jackets star (or, if he does, would be foolish to part with defenceman Jake Gardiner). The Leafs could learn as early as Saturday whether they’re going be the next team Nash plays for.
Defenceman Luke Schenn, it should not surprise anyone, stands a good chance of being employed by another National Hockey League team on Tuesday. The Leafs are high on Marlies defenceman Korbinian Holzer, and figure he could make the full-time jump to the NHL next season, while prospect Jesse Blacker is tracking to be a valuable NHL defenceman in the not-too-distant future.
http://www.torontosun.com/2012/02/24/brown-nash-leafs-need-a-spark