Toronto and Phoenix close?
Okay, take this for exactly what it is, a rumour.
Phoenix has been knocking on Toronto’s door recently, and now seems to be stepping up into the Ed Belfour talk. It appears as though Phoenix is seriously trying to get Ed Belfour from Toronto, and has a package of players that they would be willing to move, in exchange for the right pieces from the Maple Leafs. Reports out of Phoenix are indicating that the Coyotes would ship Mike Comrie, Curtis Joseph, and one of either Paul Mara or Derek Morris to Toronto, but their list of demands is high. In return, the ‘Yotes want Belfour, along with two young bright spots in Toronto’s depth charts, Kyle Wellwood and Andy Wozniewski.
New reports today indicate that Toronto has counter-offered the Coyotes original plan, looking at hanging onto Wellwood, and shipping Nikolai Antropov to Phoenix instead. This deal may also hinge on whether Toronto would add one more prospect to the deal.
Also, this would tie into Canada’s “Globe And Mail” report. Tim Wharnsby reports MLSE chairman Richard Peddie watched Saturday’s Leafs-Ottawa Senators game with GM John Ferguson Jr. Following the game Peddie was overheard saying to Ferguson, “”I’m going to the [Toronto Raptors basketball] game [on Sunday]. I’ll be around. So if you want to do any of the stuff we talked about tonight, let me know and I will let the board know.” Peddie also told Wharnsby that, while he doesn’t know if anything’s imminent, he admitted his GM was “working on trades”.