On the Toronto Maple Leafs …
Luke Fox of Sportsnet: Coach Mike Babcock said last week that he’s already given GM Lou Lamoriello his wish list. He’s spoken publically about his desire to add some depth down the middle and on the blue line.
“If you think anything we’re doing is affecting the way Lou sleeps, it’s not,” Babcock said. “He’s just going to go about his job. And if there’s a deal there that’s going to help us, we’re going to make the deal.
“I don’t put pressure on anybody,” the coach added. “Pressure’s a privilege. Don’t ever kid yourself. If you don’t have a chance, there’s no pressure.”
Mark Masters of TSN: James van Riemsdyk is a pending UFA, and he doesn’t feel any greater security with the upcoming trade deadline.
“You’ve seen different trades over the years and you realize that no one’s safe ever no matter what so, with that in mind, it kind of eases your mind, knowing that it’s really outside your control,” van Riemsdyk said. “Obviously, there’s a degree of humanity in it, because we all are human so some of that can creep in sometimes, but at the end of the day it’s out of your control.”
On Monday, JvR saw the second lowest time-on-ice of any Leafs forward, but Babcock said that was them being up by only a goal. His overall TOI is at 14:39 this season, down from 15:53 last year.
Babcock on the trade speculation.
“It doesn’t matter what I say, they’re going to listen to speculation,” Babcock noted, “and most of it is speculation, because the people who think they’re in the know aren’t in the know. The only people who are, are general managers and the general managers don’t know what’s going to happen so you can speculate ‘till you’re blue in the face. I’ve been through a ton of them and even when you think you know what’s going on you don’t know what’s going on.”
The Leafs could look to improve their depth down the middle. It looks like pending UFA Tyler Bozak will remain with the Leafs beyond the deadline.
“I, personally, don’t think about it,” he said before breaking into a huge grin. “(It’s) probably my sixth year here that they’ve been saying I’m getting traded.”
