- Mike Johnston of Sportsnet: Nick Kypreos said the thinks the Maple Leafs wanted Anthony Mantha from the Red Wings yesterday in a Dion Phaneuf trade. The Leafs were even willing to retain some salary.
- Rob Longley: Maple Leafs GM Dave Nonis on the deadline: “We didn’t go out and try to move a bunch of people. All we did is say we are open for business.”
- Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun: Simmons wonders if yesterday’s trades will be GM Dave Nonis’s last as the Leafs GM. If Brendan Shanahan is asked about Nonis’s future, “you get a little juke, a little dance, but no real clarity as to where this may be headed.” Nonis has three years left on his contract.
- Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun: The deadline came and went with Dion Phaneuf, Phil Kessel, Tyler Bozak and Joffrey Lupul remaining on the roster.
“Bigger contracts generally move in the off season, that’s the way it is in the cap era,” Nonis said after the 3 p.m. deadline passed with just a couple of minor moves of pending free agents who weren’t going to be a big part of the future. “We’re going to move players based on the ability to make our team better. It’s not a fire sale. There isn’t a date.
“We didn’t go out and try to move a bunch of people today. All we did is say we are open for business to see if there are fits to make us better.”
The Leafs had semi-serious talks with the Red Wings about Phaneuf. There was some interest in Lupul, but not enough return for the Leafs to make a move.
“I’m not going to get into individual people, but our position hasn’t changed,” Nonis said. “We’re looking to build this team into a contender, a competitive group. We’ll make deals with our current players based on accomplishing that goal.
“We looked at other situations, but there wasn’t a fit short term or long term that made sense to us. We’re pretty happy with where we are and now we have to focus on the future.”
