- Steve Buffery of the Toronto Sun: Maple Leafs GM Dave Nonis on moving up in the draft:
Yeah, we would depending on the price. We think, like I think most teams think, that it’s fairly deep in terms of quality, one through 10, 12, 14, so we believe we’re going to get a good player at eight. That said, if we can move up higher and the cost made sense we would do it. We’ve talked to a couple of teams and shared ideas of what would make sense right now. Right now we haven’t found anything that does, but if there’s a deal there that isn’t cost prohibitive we would look to do it, if not we’re happy to pick where we are.
So there are a couple of guys we have our sights set on more than others, but we’re not going to blow our brains out to get there.
Nonis on if they still hope to re-sign Dave Bolland:
Yeah, we’re hopeful. There’s work to do for sure. Dave is a quality guy and a good player and brings a lot of the things we want to keep with our team. There’s got to be a number that makes sense for both sides, and if there isn’t, then he can go to free agency. But we’re still in contact with Dave and our opinion of him hasn’t changed.
Nonis on trade talk:
Yeah. It’s getting busier. There’s talking but there’s nothing right now that we’re close to doing. But it’s picked up a lot.
I know it will get busier once we get to Philadelphia.
Nonis on moving Jake Gardiner to forward:
He was a forward, he started as a forward. He played more of his formative years as a forward. There’s been some talk of it, but I think he gives us an element at the back end that would be hard to replace. He can skate the puck out, pretty good on the power play. So I think right now, we would keep him back there, but …
- Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun: The Leafs may be interested in Dan Boyle, but it may only be for a year.The Jets aren’t going to be in a rush to trade Evander Kane.
- Hope Smoke: Darren Dreger: “It’s not going to be easy for Col to keep Stastny. When you look at the scenario with paying both ROR & Stastny.” … “Both Stastny & ROR are exceptional players and big parts of that team” … “It’s similar to Bolland and the Leafs.” … “We’re talking about different level of player here, but the importance of Bolland to the Leafs is significant enough” … “As significant as Bolland is to the Leafs, there is a number in mind that they are not comfortable going over.” … “That would apply to Stastny & Colorado as well” … “What that number is for Stastny and Col is a tough one to say. Some believe that it will be in the $6s”