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Can the Leafs find a new home for Komisarek?
Komisarek’s contract is such that he has to provide that list of 12 teams every June 15, so that part is not exactly news, but if he is willing to play anywhere, league wide, that may give Leafs GM Dave Nonis a couple more options to pursue.
Toronto would likely have to assume the max salary they’re allowed to (50 per cent, or $2.25-million annually) to move him – especially given how little Komisarek has played – and even then it may be difficult to find a home for him.
Being in limbo like this is a difficult situation for the player, too, as regardless of the money involved, this is hardly what Komisarek wanted when he chose Toronto as a free agent in the summer of 2009.
He was asked about the rumours after practice on Sunday and wasn’t revealing much.
TradeLog: Pens looking at Jack Johnson
The NHL trade deadline expires in less than a month.
The Penguins may again me be looking to strike before it by moving a young defenseman.
Simon Despres, 21, is available – and the Columbus Blue Jackets’ three senior members of hockey operations attended the Penguins’ 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning at Consol Energy Center on Monday night.
New general manager Jarmo Kekalainen, his assistant Chris MacFarland, and senior advisor Craig Patrick – who preceded Ray Shero as Penguins general manager – watched the game from the media level.
Leafs’ Lupul practiced Sunday for first time since injury
Leafs’ Lupul practiced Sunday for first time since injury bit.ly/WFY6GE
— Hockey Central (@SNHockeyCentral) March 4, 2013
Liles and Brian Bickell Rumors
With the Toronto Maple Leafs scratching John-Michael Liles, it’s clear they’re trying to shop him. The arrival of Mike Kostka from their AHL farm team, makes Liles redundant. Question is why he was signed to that four-year, $15.5-million contract last. His $3.8-million salary-cap hit makes a trade tough, but teams can work deals now to pick up a percentage of salary.
Hurricanes have expressed intrest in a exprienced D
John Michael Liles has not played in recent games and could see himself moving out of Toronto by the trade deadline. With the Carolina huricanes making it public that they are looking around for a veteran D-man to add to their blue line, John Michael must surely be one of their targets. Could we see John Michael liles be moved for a mid-round pick? Yes , and probably sooner rather than later.
Michael Lo Giudice
Time for Tambellini to make trade for some sandpaper for his Edmonton Oilers
It’s painfully clear that the current Oilers can be pushed out of games. It’s not that they won’t go to the areas where the heavy traffic is (along the boards and especially in front of the net where 8 out of 10 goal are scored) but it’s a matter of they can’t get there. The heavy lineup of St. Louis leaned on them. Minnesota, a middling team, battled harder than them and went where you score goals.
The Oilers aren’t soft, but they sorely need a Lucic type player (good luck getting that exact makeup) or a David Clarkson, who is tough to handle and can score, or a Wayne Simmonds or a Scott Hartnell.
Blues may bring Arnott back to help
Perhaps one way to solve new problems is with old answers, literally and figuratively.
With Vladimir Tarasenko, Alex Steen and Andy McDonald out of the lineup with injuries, with veteran leader Jamie Langenbrunner out for the season — and with just 27 games remaining in the regular season — the Blues are considering bringing back center Jason Arnott.
Could the Sabres explore Bernier?
Bernier worth a look
The Sabres would be wise to check the price tag for Kings backup Jonathan Bernier, who makes $1.25 million and will become a restricted free agent after this season.
Penguins have Flames captain Jarome Iginla in their sights
Don’t be surprised if the Pittsburgh Penguins get Sidney Crosby a little help.
While the Penguins’ captain is doing a good job setting a torrid scoring pace this season, Pittsburgh general manager Ray Shero is expected to go shopping for another winger and possibly a defenceman before the April 3 trade deadline.
Who would the Flames have for a goalie should they move Kipper?
The Flames are coming to a crossroads.
Kiprusoff, who’s currently nearing a return from a knee injury suffered Feb. 5, has one more season on his contract after this year before becoming an unrestricted free agent. The 36-year-old netminder no longer has a no-trade clause, and a trade could really kick start a rebuild for the floundering team, which is awfully close to 30th even with him in the fold.
Blues and Leafs On Each Other’s Radar?
Sources out of Toronto have the Blues and Maple Leafs on each other’s radar. One player whose name continues to pop up, not just with St. Louis, is forward Nikolai Kulemin.
A former 30 goal scorer, Kulemin is playing a different role with Toronto and could maybe use a change of scenery. The 26 year-old Russian has just 12 points this season but has been used primarily in a defensive/PK role. He’s seen limited PP action.
He put up 38 points in 36 KHL games this season. Kulemin is a childhood friend of Pittsburgh superstar Evgeni Malkin as the two played together before coming over to the NHL.
Canucks were close on a deal to move Luongo
Mike Gillis on After Hours, asked if the Canucks ever got close to closing a deal to move @strombone1 prior to year: “Yeah. Yeah, we were.”
— Dan Tencer (@dantencer) March 3, 2013
Pens believe that they will make changes
The National Hockey League trade deadline arrives in exactly one month.
Penguins general manager Ray Shero believes that, by the time the cutoff for making deals arrives at 3 p.m., a lot of players will have new employers.
“I think there will be a good number of trades,” he said. “Every year, there’s activity, because every team needs something.
“Or wants to do something.”
Rumors persist in Toronto that general manager Dave Nonis may unload Kessel
Meanwhile, rumors persist in Toronto that general manager Dave Nonis may unload Kessel (4-12—16 in his first 22 games) prior to the April 3 trade deadline. In three-plus seasons, the ex-Bruin has convinced many up there that he’s neither a leader nor core performer. Add him to a deep lineup with a coach who emphasizes offense (say, the Blackhawks, or maybe Canucks or Ducks), and he could be that 60-, 70-, or even 80-point guy who helps deliver a Stanley Cup.
Ideally, a Kessel swap would bring the Leafs a franchise center. Of course, if they had a franchise center, perhaps they wouldn’t consider dealing Kessel. Such is life in the salary cap world.
http://bostonglobe.com/sports/2013/03/03/nazem-kadri-helps-maple-leafs-get-running/uacH4EE5ALZmL5PVkmOwxN/story.html
Rumors from Bruce Garrioch
If the Ducks decide to move RW Corey Perry before the deadline, it’s going to be an auction. The Leafs would certainly be interested in making a deal but they’d want the opportunity to sign Perry before giving up top prospects to make the deal. It’s believed C Ryan Getzlaf, who just built a home in Anaheim, is going to stay put and the two sides are inching closer to a deal.
Talks are continuing with Perry as well, but the sense is he won’t sign … GM Marc Bergevin and coach Michel Therrien have turned the Habs around. A year ago, Montreal was dead last on this date with 78 points in a season that wasn’t If the Ducks decide to move RW Corey Perry before the deadline, it’s going to be an auction. The Leafs would certainly be interested in making a deal but they’d want the opportunity to sign Perry before giving up top prospects to make the deal. It’s believed C Ryan Getzlaf, who just built a home in Anaheim, is going to stay put and the two sides are inching closer to a deal. Talks are continuing with Perry as well, but the sense is he won’t sign … GM Marc Bergevin and coach Michel Therrien have turned the Habs around. A year ago, Montreal was dead last on this date with 78 points in a season that wasn’t shortened. This may be a 48-game schedule, but the change is remarkable. Bergevin showed he’s not afraid to make a deal by sending LW Erik Cole to Dallas for UFA RW Michael Ryder last week. Don’t think Bergevin is done. He’d like to free up more cash.shortened. This may be a 48-game schedule, but the change is remarkable. Bergevin showed he’s not afraid to make a deal by sending LW Erik Cole to Dallas for UFA RW Michael Ryder last week. Don’t think Bergevin is done. He’d like to free up more cash.
http://www.ottawasun.com/2013/03/01/calgary-flames-bone-headed-pitch-to-sign-rfa-ryan-oreilly-backfires-spectacularly
Komisarek reportedly has a list of teams he will accept trade to
For the first and only time this season, the Toronto Maple Leafs will not take to the ice for one of their traditional Saturday night games, but even without a game today, we have plenty of Maple Leafs news making the rounds.
Mike Komisarek, who hasn’t played since February 2nd against the Bruins, has reportedly issued a list of 12 teams he would accept a trade to.
Trade rumors aside, Wild’s Cullen hopes he can stay put
Matt Cullen is a savvy pro. At 36, in his 16th season, he knows how it works.
The trade deadline is April 3. He is in the last year of a contract that would make him an unrestricted free agent if the Wild chooses not to re-sign him.
That means, without fail, Cullen will be the subject of trade rumors for the next month.
Jones: Lightning should trade Lecavalier
The rumor typically begins up north, usually in Montreal, then makes its way to Toronto.
Someone floats the idea in a newspaper. Then a radio show picks it up, and pretty soon it’s all over the Internet. The rumor always includes these three words:
“Vinny” and “Lecavalier” and “trade.”
‘Coaches have a shelf life’: Former Leafs GM Brian Burke
With his days as an official front-office NHL executive on hold, it’s been quiet times for former Maple Leafs president and general manager Brian Burke.
The fiery Irishman has had little to say since being fired just prior to the season, but you can’t keep a good quote down forever and Burke was in vintage form Friday morning in Boston.
Speaking on a panel at the MIT Sloan Analytics Conference, Burke was at his bombastic best, addressing several issues from his ill-fated tenure at the helm of the Leafs.
