- Mike Johnston of Sportsnet: The trade market right now may not be as busy as most might think according to Sabres GM Tim Murray.
“It’s been quiet, to be frank. It’s been very, very quiet. We’re fairly close to the deadline and I didn’t expect it,” Murray told Buffalo radio station WGR 550 Wednesday. “I don’t expect every team to be active, but there usually are a small amount of teams that don’t wait for the deadline, that like to get it done before the deadline…It has, to me, been surprisingly quiet. People aren’t even kicking tires.”
Murray said that they have nothing imminent and that it’s harder to make deals than people think.
“It’s easy to talk about trading players in fantasy hockey (but) these guys are men. These guys have families. It’s hard on them,” Murray explained. “I read every day I’m trading Tyler Myers, I’m trading this guy, that guy…There are a lot of rumours out there that are completely unfounded…
“I think other teams know exactly where I stand. We have to get better and our better is not today. Our better is in the future, so I think they know that I’m ready to listen and be a trade partner if that makes sense. In saying that, though, the amount of rumours that have been out there are probably about 50 times more than the conversations I’ve had.”
- Hope Smoke: Bob McKenzie on TSN radio: “I think the Leafs would like to sign Franson, but unwilling or incapable of allocating the money needed” … ” Because they’re going to have so much $ tied up on deals that, to put it charitably, aren’t returning maximum yield.” ” Clarkson & Robidas. Although Robidas & in either case, they can both play better than they can.” “There’s also a $2 million hit on Gleason next year. So, you’ve spent over $10 million on those 3 entities” “You can’t afford Franson right now.” “Maybe what Franson will get on the open market will be more than the Leafs want to pay him. Slice it whatever way you want, when you look at the mins & responsibilities he’s been a top pairing D for the Leafs all year” “Shanahan may be saying it. The reality is it’s going to be a long time before the Leafs get to where they want to be. I think they might have been prepared to do that with Franson in tow if the #s worked. The #s don’t work” “General rule of thumb for a rental is a 2nd round pick & a prospect. If you get into a bidding war it could be a 1st round pick.” “Depends which D gets the most attention. Sekera & Michalek will as will Franson.”
- Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos is saying that two or three Western Conference teams are looking at a trade for Maple Leafs Dion Phaneuf. In a perfect world the Leafs would move him at the deadline, but they can wait until the summer. Doug MacLean still thinks they can get good value for him, but not the value they would like to get.