On the Toronto Maple Leafs …
Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star: (mailbag) thinks that Ken Holland will replace GM Lou Lamoriello in 2018-19. Lamoriello’s contract expires after the 2017-18 season.
thinks the Maple Leafs shouldn’t make any major moves like trading James van Riemsdyk and William Nylander.
Mark Zwolinski of the the Toronto Star: St. Louis Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk.
“Last summer, it wasn’t so much the appeal (of a trade). It was just that you don’t know. You don’t know what’s out there,” Shattenkirk said.
“You wait for teams to see what the opportunity is. This is the first time in my career I’m in this position, but I can tell you (trade talk) is part of the routine now. It happens every day now.
“It’s been a different year that way, a different situation . . . but it really hasn’t been that stressful. There’s a lot to worry about in this locker room, ups and downs, so that allows me to focus on hockey. Being in St. Louis helps, too. Not the frenzy it is up here.”
On paper, Shattenkirk appears to be a good fit for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but a trade for him before the trade deadline remains a long shot.
Shattenkirk will be looking for a multi-year contract of at least $6 million a year. The Leafs have several young stars that will need extensions in the next few years, which could create some salary cap issues.
It makes no sense for the Leafs to give up any of their prized youngster for Shattenkirk as a rental.
On the Minnesota Wild …
Michael Russo of the Star-Tribune: Sources are saying forward Ryan Carter will be attempting a comeback with the Wild. He’s been rehabbing his right shoulder after having surgery to repair a torn labrum.
Carter would need to sign a contract before March 1st to be eligible to play in the playoffs.
Carter attended the Wild’s training camp on PTO, but was released due to shoulder injury.
“He was really good and fair,” Carter said of Fletcher last September. “He just told me to get surgery, get healthy and depending where we both stand when I get healthy enough to play, we can go from there. He just said it’s not fair to me to play hurt and it’s not fair to the coach and team to not know if I can play through it.
“He said they’d help me with surgery, and I don’t think they have any responsibility to take care of me, so I appreciate that.”