On the Toronto Maple Leafs and Valtteri Filppula …
Chris Johnston of Sportsnet: Toronto Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock called Valtteri Filppula in an attempt to get him to accept a trade to the Maple Leafs before the trade deadline.
“We had a good conversation,” Filppula said Thursday. “Obviously, I’ve known him for a while so it was nice to catch up.”
Obviously, Babcock wasn’t able to convince him. The Maple Leafs weren’t on Filppula 16 team trade list that he created in the summer with his agent Markus Lehto, and he would change his mind.
“I had made a list earlier and just decided to stick with the list,” said Filppula. “I think everything at the trade deadline comes at you really quick. When you do those things (in the summer) you have a little bit more time to think about things.
“So I just wanted to stick with that.”
On the Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, Dallas Stars, Anaheim Ducks, Winnipeg Jets and Los Angeles Kings …
Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: If the Edmonton Oilers go the bridge contract route with Leon Draisaitl, Nikita Kucherov‘s three-year, $4.76 million per season deal could be a comparable.
thinks the Calgary Flames will re-sign pending UFA goaltender Brian Elliott, but they may not extend backup Chad Johnson.
The Dallas Stars didn’t trade Patrick Sharp at the deadline. He told them that his injury (hip?) wouldn’t be able to hold up in the playoffs.
Sami Vatanen is the Anaheim Ducks fourth best defenseman. Will someone trade for him this offseason – three years left at $4.875 million per?
The Winnipeg Jets could use a No. 1 goalie, but they could also use a shutdown defenseman.
The LA Kings will have to be creative to get the Vegas Golden Knights to select Dustin Brown in the expansion draft. Brown does have a no-movement clause.