On the Toronto Maple Leafs …
- Maple Leafs Hot Stove: Mike Babcock on if the Maple Leafs will have captain next season.
“I think it’s really important. I don’t expect to have one. Now, things can change. Being a captain isn’t given. It comes on an earned basis. You have to have someone who is capable of being that. Lou and I haven’t even talked about this yet, or Shanny for that matter. We had a team picture today without one. It was not really what you want. In the end, it’s where you’re at. We’ll make sure we have a good captain over time.”
- Mark Masters: Pending RFA Nazem Kadri: “At the end of the day, they make that decision (on contract length), but in terms of my play this year I’ve really progressed”
- Mark Masters: Kadri on wanting a long-term contract: “I think I made it clear about where I want to stay & where my heart is & that’s in Toronto.”
Lou Lamoriello meeting with the media yesterday.
- Maple Leafs Hot Stove: Maple Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello on their biggest need going forward.
“We’ll find out as the year goes.”
Lamoriello on their goaltending situation.
“I think that’s just like all of the other areas that we have to look at. We’ll just wait and see.”
Brendan Shanahan meeting with the media yesterday.
- Maple Leafs Hot Stove: Brendan Shanahan on his expectations for free agency.
“Too early to say.”
Shanahan on the excitement of the draft.
“I think there’s excitement around every draft, especially if you’re a team that has two picks in the first round, two in the second, two in the third, two in the fourth. Obviously, just with the moves we’ve made to acquire those picks, the draft is something we are really focusing on. To have a high pick certainly is exciting to us, our fans, and most of all our scouts, who put in a lot of time and a lot of miles throughout the hockey season so that they have an opportunity to give us some players.”