On the Toronto Maple Leafs …
- Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet: (from his Reddit AMA) The Blues are close to the salary cap … “I’d be very curious to see Kadri in a STL uniform.”
Scouting the St. Louis Blues and San Jose Sharks game …
- Michael Augello: Leafs assistant GM Kyle Dubas and Director of pro scouting Dave Morrison are listed at the Blues – Sharks game. Elliotte Friedman mentioned the Blues possible interest in Nazem Kadri today. Leafs could be eyeing Kevin Shattenkirk.
On the Toronto Maple Leafs and St. Louis Blues …
- David Pagnotta: The Blues have been linked to Nazem Kadri and Joffrey Lupul in the past … last season too. The Blues director of pro scouting DiMaio was in Toronto on Thursday.
- The Fourth Period: The Blues and Maple Leafs were talking at the deadline last year about Lupul. Lupul has two years left on his deal. The Leafs would have to retain salary or take back a higher contract in any Lupul trade.
- My NHL Trade Rumors – Elliotte Friedman post: (From last year) The Maple Leafs coveted Petteri Lindbohm and Joel Edmondson in their Roman Polak talks.
On the Mark Hunter and Lou Lamoriello …
- Mike Zeisberger of the Toronto Sun: GM Lou Lamoriello on the stock piling of draft picks and the importance of Mark Hunter.
“I don’t think I could overestimate the value of the knowledge and the expertise of Mark Hunter in his position in this draft,” Lamoriello said on Monday. “Total, total comfortability.
“As you said, I was fortunate to have David Conte for a number of years over there. Both have tremendous similarities as far as being at the rink each and every day, seeing games and having knowledge. Mark is certainly that.
“In the brief time that I have been here, and one of the first individuals that I spent time with because of how important he was, I’m impressed more and more with him and totally comfortable with him having these picks in his hands. I think the Maple Leafs fans should feel comfortable also. I know our whole staff is, throughout the Marlies, throughout the scouts — as far as their respect for him — and the coaching staff. He’s straightforward. There’s no grey area and he knows what he’s doing.”
Conte on how Lamoriello likes to build his teams.
“Lou looked to have his teams divided into three chunks — one-third veterans, one-third players in their prime, one-third youngsters,” Conte said during a phone interview Monday. “That seemed to be the recipe for a successful chemistry.
“Lou was always one to let us do our jobs. But he also spent lots of time talking to us about prospects, draft picks, watching video. He knew that if trade talks came up, he wanted to be well informed on all the potential resources at his disposal.”