On the Toronto Maple Leafs …
- TSNs Darren Dreger video: Maple Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello and the agent for pending RFA Morgan Rielly have held preliminary contract talks. It’s not a top priority right now. Contract comparables could be…
Dougie Hamilton – six years with a $5.75 million cap hit.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson – six years with a $5.5 million cap hit.
Justin Faulk – six years with a $4.83 million cap hit.
TJ Brodie – five years with a $4.65 million cap hit.Lamoriello has a lot on his plate right now with the deadline approaching, so most of the heavy lifting with Rielly will happen after that. They could look at a bridge contract if they don’t like the comparable numbers. - Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun: Roman Polak knows he’s likely to be traded by the Leafs.
“It’s 50-50,” Polak said on Wednesday when we asked him whether he expects to be a Leaf in March.
“I’m not worried about it right now, but I’m always ready for (the possibility). Even before the season started I knew it might happen. If it does, it does. If not, then not. It’s part of the business.”
James Reimer and Nazem Kadri know it’s a possibility that they could be moved as well. P.A. Parenteau, Nick Spaling, Brad Boyes and Shawn Matthias are others that could be traded.
- Hockey Buzz: The Canadiens, Predators, Rangers and Sharks have shown interest in Reimer. Reimer could be extended by the Leafs.
On the Pittsburgh Penguins and Toronto Maple Leafs …
- Chris Nichols: Darren Dreger: “I think that there’s been conversations between Pittsburgh and Toronto, potentially on Peter Holland, as example.” … “I don’t get the sense from Rutherford that he’s feeling any urgency (on trades). He likes what he has,”
On the Pittsburgh Penguins …
- Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: The Penguins are all in this season, and they find themselves in a real battle to get in. There is talk that GM Jim Rutherford is wanting to make more moves – adding a forward and defenseman.LeBrun thinks the Penguins are watching Maple Leafs pending UFA Roman Polak, who would fit in nicely on their third pairing. There is lots of interest in Polak.
Mikkel Boedker is someone who would be a nice addition if the Coyotes decide to move him. There will be other teams interested and the price might get too high for the Penguins.
The Penguins may be more interested in the rental market as opposed to players with term.
- Jonathan Bombulie of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review: Penguins GM Jim Rutherford may not be willing to mortgage any more of their future assets.
“I haven’t heard anything at this point that would entice me to do that,” Rutherford said. “I’m going to be a little bit more cautious this year, maybe, than past years, but I wouldn’t rule out anything.”
Rutherford says they more than $2 million in available cap space, meaning they could add $8 million in rental cap hits. That doesn’t mean they will be moving draft picks or top prospects like Derrick Pouliot, Daniel Sprong and Matt Murray for rentals.
If the Penguins make the playoffs, they won’t have a first round pick – transfers to the Maple Leafs from the Phil Kessel deal. They have an extra second round pick from the Canucks.
“We like this draft,” he said. “In past years, we’ve traded away younger players or picks. I think we’re getting a good group of young players now. Ideally, we’d like to keep both those second-round picks.”
If centers Evgeni Malkin, Nick Bonino and Eric Fehr are able to return and remain healthy, they could probably use a left winger. Options could be Mikkel Boedker, Andrew Ladd, Scott Hartnell and Michael Grabner.