Scouting the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning …
David Pagnotta: Scouts from 20 teams listed to attend tonight’s Maple Leafs-Lightning game: Winnipeg Jets (2), Edmonton Oilers, Dallas Stars, Ottawa Senators, Carolina Hurricanes, Pittsburgh Penguins, Vegas Golden Knights, Washington Capitals, Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues, Colorado Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens, Calgary Flames, Florida Panthers, Anaheim Ducks, Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota Wild, and the Arizona Coyotes.
James Mirtle: Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli is listed to be at the Leafs-Lightning game.
David Pagnotta: The Lightning and Oilers have been scouting each other lately.
Jonathan Willis: “I’ve talked a lot about TOR as a trade fit for EDM, but TBL’s system is loaded with entry level forwards. Most of the interesting ones are outside the NHL, but Adam Erne is up from the AHL and kinda feels like a Chiarelli-type player.”
David Pagnotta: The Jets have had two scouts at a Maple Leafs game for two straight games now.
L.A. Lariviere: The Canadiens director pro scouting Eric Crawford is one of the scouts listed at the Leafs-Lightning game. He was also at the Maple Leafs-Senators game on the weekend.
On the Toronto Maple Leafs and Rick Nash …
Frank Seravalli of TSN: TSN confirmed today that the Toronto Maple Leafs are on Rick Nash’s 12-team trade list. Nash submitted his list to the Rangers earlier this month.
“I included the teams that I think have the best chance of winning the Stanley Cup and are also places I think would be good for my family,” Nash told the New York Post over the weekend. “And, yes, that does include teams in Canada. I’m not excluding that as a possibility.”
The Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars are believed to be the front-runners for Nash.
The Leafs have three pending UFAs already in James van Riemsdyk, Tyler Bozak and Leo Komarov, so Nash may not be a fit in Toronto. Nash does have plenty of ties to Toronto though.
The Winnipeg Jets, Boston Bruins, San Jose Sharks, and Tampa Bay Lightning are other teams that are believed to be interested in Nash.