On the Toronto Maple Leafs …
TSN: Darren Dreger doesn’t think Toronto Maple Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello wants to make a big trade before the trade deadline. Dreger said on TSN 690 radio that he doesn’t think the Maple Leafs are prepared to trade William Nylander for a defenseman.
“It depends on what’s available to Toronto. If there’s the right defenceman in play, then I think that Lamoriello will make a move. As long as it doesn’t come at the expense of one of his young roster players like a Nylander,” Dreger said. “I think that it’s way too early in terms of my understanding of the Shanaplan for them to consider something like that.”
Dreger added that the Leafs could try to acquire a defenseman this offseason by dangling players like Tyler Bozak and Leo Komarov.
On the Philadelphia Flyers …
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Bob McKenzie on NBCSN on what the Philadelphia Flyers could be thinking leading up to the trade deadline.
“I don’t think the Flyers are likely to make big moves between now and the deadline,” predicted McKenzie. “I think Ron Hextall, the general manager in Philadelphia, has charted a course for this team. He wants to build through youth and get that going.
“Now, if you start looking as they get close to the deadline – are they in the playoffs, are they out of the playoffs. They do have a bunch of guys on expiring contracts. On defense you’ve got Streit, you’ve got Del Zotto, you’re got Schultz. Up front, Bellemare and Vandevelde. But, you don’t want to just throw the season away.”
The Flyers do have lots of organizational depth on the blueline. Robert Hagg could be ready for the NHL. Sam Morin is getting close and Travis Sandheim could use one more year in the AHL. Philippe Myers, out with a concussion, could be NHL ready next year.
“So they’ve got lots of young talent on the blueline, giving them some flexibility there in terms of deciding on a case-by-case basis if they want to trade any of their rentals away. They don’t want the bottom to fall out, certainly, and they’d love to make the playoffs and maybe not trade anybody.”