On the Calgary Flames and Toronto Maple Leafs …
TSN Insider Trading: Bob McKenzie: As of this moment there haven’t been substantive trade talks between the Calgary Flames and Toronto Maple Leafs. There are rumors that the Flames are prepared to trade defenseman Dougie Hamilton, but that may not be the case. Teams are calling and they are listening, but they may not be eager to do it.
The Maple Leafs at some point would like to move a winger for a defenseman. The Maple Leafs are not intent to trade winger William Nylander at all. The logical name at some point would be James van Riemsdyk – either this year, in the offseason or next year.
Darren Dreger: There is some trade interest in Peter Holland, though it may be limited. He might end up on waivers.
The Fourth Period: The Calgary Flames are taking calls on Dougie Hamilton, but it doesn’t mean they are going to trade him. They are taking offers, but will only make the move if it improves their team. Reports are the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, Sabres and Rangers are among the teams showing some interest.
Jimmy Murphy: Source said two weeks ago that it would take a “knock your socks off” offer for the Flames to trade Dougie Hamilton.
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Darren Dreger on TSN 1050 yesterday on if the Maple Leafs and Flames could be talking trade.
“Uh, no. There’s nothing official,” said Dreger. “I think that the Toronto Maple Leafs would have interest in upgrading their blueline in any way, and if Dougie Hamilton were actually on the market, why wouldn’t Lou Lamoriello and the Toronto Maple Leafs express some interest. The fit has to be right for both Calgary and Toronto to make it work. That’s obvious.
“So I think Toronto should be intrigued by Dougie Hamilton. But as Ray Ferraro just pointed out there (in the preceding audio clip), Hamilton is valued by the Calgary Flames. His game has improved over the last three weeks to a month.”
The Flames did talk to the Arizona Coyotes around the 2016 draft about Hamilton.
Dreger thinks the Flames will at least listen to trade offers for Hamilton. There are other organizational questions like GM Brad Treliving future and around Glen Gulutzan.
“So there’s a lot of things percolating in Calgary. So maybe Treliving does something significant like this, not just with Toronto, but moving Hamilton or a bigger piece to try and shake up the core.”
Dreger was asked if he contracts GM directly and asks about trade talk, and if he believes the answers they give.
“But just to circle back to the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Calgary Flames, specific to the rumors over the past day or two – I asked Brad Treliving point-blank yesterday if he had anything going on with the Toronto Maple Leafs. I didn’t suggest Hamilton. I just said ‘Anything.’ And his response was: ‘Nothing. Zero.’
“So when managers tell you that that specifically – that bluntly – then that means that they don’t want that conversation to continue on because there’s nothing there, at least for the moment.”
Dreger later adds that the Flames and Maple Leafs did talk a few weeks ago, but it might have been around something smaller – maybe a minor league deal.
