- Michael Traikos of the National Post: Leo Komarov wants to return to the NHL and is looking for a multi-year deal, possibly in the $2 million range he was getting in the KHL. Agent Mark Gandler could be looking to drive up Komarov’s price for the third-fourth liner.
“I have a feeling that we will be approached by a whole lot of teams,” Gandler told the Post in February. “I think there’s money out there. And they know what they will get out of Leo, so we will get phone calls and yes we will talk to Leafs first, no question about it. We have a good relationship and nothing has changed.”
A source within the Maple Leafs organization said it’s “50-50” on whether they would bring him back. The Leafs can’t afford to pay him second line money to play on the third line. The same should apply to Dave Bolland. Last year, the Leafs offered Komarov a one year deal at $1.3 million before he signed one year deal at $2 million with Moscow Dynamo.
- Howard Berger: Was told on Monday night that Leo Komarov will meet with the Maple Leafs and is looking for a multi-year deal.
- Howard Berger of Berger Bytes: If Leo Komarov is looking for a five year deal, there likely won’t be many teams interested. If he wants a three year deal, there will likely be plenty of interest. Komarov is currently a Group II restricted free agent, but will become unrestricted on July 1st. Komarov would like to come back to Toronto, and negotiations have taken place. He wants to play more than a fourth line role, getting into the top two or three lines, which therefore increases the amount of money he’d want. Berger thinks he could be worth a three year deal at $2.5 million per season.
- Adam Proteau: Thinks that it makes some sense to have Martin Brodeur as a backup to Jonathan Bernier next year.