Category Archives: Toronto Maple Leafs

Toronto Maple Leaf News and Rumors

Loose Leafs

 

Free agent Mason Raymond, quickly cementing himself into a left wing role, has begun contract talks with the Leafs, according to reports, but nothing is finalized. “The more I get out here with the guys, the more comfortable I get,” said Raymond, who spent Friday in a first-line experiment with Kessel and Tyler Bozak.

Maple Leafs, Cody Franson remain apart in contract talks

The Toronto Maple Leafs and defenceman Cody Franson remain at loggerheads over a new contract.

Franson, a restricted free agent, has not reported to Leafs camp, hoping to convince the team to sign him to a one-year deal. The team wants Franson to sign a multi-year deal.

“I just think with the current cap situation we’re in, a one-year (deal) would suit the team the best,” Franson told TSN on Tuesday after working out with the Ryerson Rams. “They’ve got a little bit of a crunch on numbers and I’m trying to make it happen for both sides.

Leafs’ Kadri now quiet on contract talks

Whether it’s because a new contract is closer or he’s skipping the start of Maple Leafs training camp a week Monday, Nazem Kadri is now keeping mum about money.

Could the Leafs trade Franson?

There has been speculation Franson’s rights might be dealt sooner than later with a number of interested suitors should the two-way defenceman be put on the market. But Carlyle and Franson hit it off after previous coach Ron Wilson could not find the right fit for the hard-shooting defender.

Leafs behind Franson chatter?

The Cody Franson trade rumours don’t make a lot of sense to me. Unless the Leafs are starting them, hoping to reduce the price of the restricted free agent. Franson made a lot of progress in his first full year under Randy Carlyle … In his one season with the Marlies on an AHL contract — which meant he could have left any time to play with an NHL team — at least 18 teams contacted Paul Ranger, hoping to sign him. His answer was always no. Ranger should be one of the Leafs’ six defencemen come October … Once it was determined Jake Gardiner was not available, the player the L.A. Kings wanted most from the Leafs in the Jonathan Bernier trade was defenceman Carl Gunnarsson.

http://www.torontosun.com/2013/07/27/incredibly-blue-jays-encarnacion-was-up-for-grabs

Nonis: Kessel, Phaneuf extensions not on ‘front burner’

Recently re-signed Maple Leafs GM Dave Nonis has already made his mark on the team in his first seven months on the job, but his biggest test is still ahead of him.

The Toronto Maple Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf, a defenseman who logged 25:10 minutes per game in 2013, has just one year left on his contract. On top of that, their leading scorer, Phil Kessel, is also set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Leafs’ Phil Kessel, Dion Phaneuf may get big payday next year

The two marquee names on the Toronto Maple Leafs roster, Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf, are both slated for unrestricted free agency next July. Which means somewhere out there are agents and lawyers working for the players and on management’s side, furiously trying to determine exactly what the two are worth and what kind of contract each can reasonably expect on the open market.

Here’s an educated guess at where they’re going to end up.

Ex-Leaf executive says the Oilers may be interested in Dion Phaneuf

Former Maple Leafs assistant general manager Bill Watters was interviewed on Oilers Now on Friday, and he had both an interesting rumour and some harsh words for Toronto captain Dion Phaneuf. In part, here’s what he had to say:

Dion Phaneuf should be dispatched as soon as they possibly can and the story I hear is that Edmonton’s interested and if they are tell [general manager Craig MacTavish] to take him and have fun with him. I find him to be the most overrated, undernourished hockey player in the history of the NHL and whoever made him the captain of the Maple Leafs should have been fired six years ago.

‘Several’ teams after Mikhail Grabovski: agent

While “several” NHL teams have shown an interest in Mikhail Grabovski, the just-married centre remains in no hurry to decide his fate, according to his agent.

“I have several teams talking to Grabovksi,” said agent Gary Greenstin. “We’ll see what direction we go.

“He’s not worried.”

Bernier signs 2 year deal

Leafs sign Clarkson

The Maple Leafs, who have plenty of cap space, have signed David Clarkson in addition to keeping Tyler Bozak. Bozak re-signed for $21 million over five years. The Leafs bid between $5.5 and $6 million for seven years on Clarkson, reports Doug MacLean, and the UFA agreed to a seven-year deal with Toronto:

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/nhl-free-agency-hottest-rumours-latest-reports/

Grabovski buyout gives Leafs options

On the day Mikhail Grabovski officially takes himself off the open market, the former Toronto Maple Leafs centre is also likely to become a NHL free agent.

What a turn of events.

The Leafs placed Grabovski on unconditional waivers Thursday with the intention of using a compliance buyout on him if he clears Friday – which just happens to be the day the 29-year-old will marry his longtime girlfriend in Toronto, according to agent Gary Greenstin.

Leafs buyout Komisarek

Maple Leafs have used a compliance buyout on defenceman Mike Komisarek