- Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun: The Rangers, Canucks and Penguins had been interested in Leafs Mike Santorelli. On why Nonis made the move on Cody Franson and Santorelli on the weekend and not waiting until closer to the trade deadline in hopes of getting a better offer.
“You never know if you wait longer, if it’s going to be get better or it it’s going to drop off,” Nonis said during a Sunday conference call with reporters.
“You do run the risk of the market changing, and you run the risk of injury … we just felt it was the right time to act on it.”
It eliminated the risk of one of them getting injured in the next two weeks. There was the chance that another would get in on the bidding war for them though.
- Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: The Canucks, Penguins and Bruins were among the teams interested in Santorelli. LeBrun doesn’t think they could have got a first round pick if the Leafs traded Franson and Santorelli separately. They might have got a second round pick and a prospect for Franson, and a second round pick for Santorelli. Combining both got the first round pick they wanted.
“Great deal for both teams,” said a rival Western Conference team executive via text message Sunday. “Nashville is having one of those seasons where you have to for it. They bolstered both ends of their lineup with two players who are ‘coming home’ and will be highly motivated after having escaped the circus in Toronto. The Leafs, on the other hand, moved two players whom they couldn’t sign for a first-round pick in a very deep draft and a skilled, gritty prospect who typifies the new small forward than cam play in the modern game.”
The Leafs aren’t in a position to re-sign Daniel Winnik, so he’ll be moved. They’d like to get a second and third round pick or a second round pick and a prospect for Winnik.
- Luke Fox of Sportsnet: Mike Santorelli on Kessel and Phaneuf
“They’re both great guys; I really enjoyed playing with them. They’re world-class hockey players, and they’ve proven that. Dion is a big, physical defenceman that can move the puck, and he plays on the power play. I’ve never played with anybody that can shoot the puck like that,” Santorelli said. “I have every confidence that those two will be a big part of moving forward, whether they’re here or wherever they go.”
- Dennis Bernstein: (answering question) A Phaneuf to Kings deal wouldn’t include Mike Richards.
- Chris Johnston: Leafs Daniel Winnik on possibility of being traded: “When it happens it happens.”
- James Mirtle: Leafs Phil Kessel eight team trade list is pretty limited. Think he’d have to want to leave and that’s not clear.
- Damien Cox: The Leafs are getting interest in Tyler Bozak. A first round pick would get the ball rolling for the Leafs. They could then do Phaneuf and/or Kessel later. Having two first round picks allows you to move up in the draft if need be.