Category Archives: Toronto Maple Leafs

Toronto Maple Leaf News and Rumors

Leafs GM Nonis reportedly working phones to find a centre

Not all the talk at the NHL’s board of governors meeting Monday in Pebble Beach will surround the formal agenda.

Trade talk is also on the table.

With only the Buffalo Sabres and Florida Panthers willing to throw in the towel on making the playoffs, three league executives told QMI Agency this week that the chatter has heated up and those discussions will continue when the 30 teams gather.

Trade interest in Kulemin

Leafs are willing to move Gardiner to bring in a center

David Clarkson paying the price for the Leafs loosing ways of late

David Clarkson saw red on Monday, but would not let any anger at a possible line change spew to the surface.

When the Maple Leafs emerged from a hard-to-watch video session preceding their first practice after four straight losses, the pricey winger was wearing the rouge of a checking line, with Carter Ashton and Trevor Smith. Nikolai Kulemin had switched positions with Clarkson on the second line with centre Nazem Kadri and Mason Raymond.

Maple Leafs defenceman Jake Gardiner presents team with dilemma

The human conundrum that is Jake Gardiner may end up challenging the relationship between Maple Leafs coach Randy Carlyle and general manager Dave Nonis.

On one side is Carlyle, often frustrated by Gardiner’s play and decision making, not committed to playing the young defenceman every night and in every situation.

The Phaneuf contract will likely be around 7 million per year

Would Ruutu be a good fit in Toronto?

Toronto Maple Leafs GM Dave Nonis intends to sign Dion Phaneuf to new deal but ‘it has to be the right number’

Speaking with Sportsnet 590 The Fan on Thursday morning, Nonis praised Phaneuf for a growth in leadership ability, as well as for logging hard minutes on the blue line. The 28-year-old is logging a team-high average of 24 minutes 17 seconds of ice time a night.

Could the Leafs be looking to trade Reimer?

With Reimer’s deal up, it will force Toronto to likely make a decision in the offseason depending on his contract demands. When Edmonton was looking for a goalie earlier this season, it had been speculated by some that the Leafs should move Reimer, but that doesn’t sound like an idea that appeals to Nonis for this season.

Hurricanes looking at Liles?

There might also be rumbles on the trade front as the NHL holiday roster freeze is now less than a month away (Dec. 19-27).

Sportsnet reported Tuesday that Carolina Hurricanes hockey operations VP Ron Francis was scouting the Marlies game on Tuesday at Ricoh against his Charlotte farm club to look at defenceman John-Michael Liles.

http://www.torontosun.com/2013/11/20/leafs-roster-will-need-tweaking

Maple Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf dubbed Princess Phaneuf by Sabres’ John Scott

John Scott was fighting mad but with nobody to scrap, the Buffalo Sabres thug used his tough talk instead.

Incensed at having been ejected from Saturday’s game during an animated third-period skirmish that involved multiple players, including Toronto defenceman Dion Phaneuf, Scott lashed out at the Maple Leafs captain.

Do you think that Nonis made the wrong move in the summer by dumping Mikhail Grabovski

Leafs were offered a few major-league centres

The Leafs were offered a few major-league centres in their dealings before settling on Anaheim’s Peter Holland. The reason they didn’t trade for a veteran third- or fourth-line guy was because they felt there was no upside in doing so. With Holland, a first-round pick in both the OHL and NHL drafts, there is a belief he could become something. He has size and a good shot. Now it’s up to him …